What pelleted seed is
Pelleting coats small or oddly shaped seeds in inert material so that every seed ends up the same size, shape and weight. The seeds are tumbled with the coating while moisture is added a little at a time; when the coating has built up to the target size, the pellets are cured, or dried.
Pelleted seed has benefits and a few drawbacks, but paying attention to the points below lets you get the most from it.
Benefits Of Pelleted Seed
Pelleted seed makes sowing faster and more efficient, whether you seed directly in the field or into flats, plugs or soil blocks for transplants. Uniform seed matters most in mechanical seeders: because pellets are all the same size and shape, they are less likely to stick or jam, so you can drop one seed at a time, waste less seed and spend less time thinning. In root and bulb crops such as onions, beets, carrots and parsnips, even spacing also helps give more uniform roots.
Pellets also make tiny seeds like lettuce, carrots and some flowers much easier to handle, so they are handy even for small plantings.
Choosing pelleted seed
Pellet Size
Pellets vary in size and density. Hensley’s carries medium-density pellets, which work across a wide range of growing conditions and seeding equipment. Pellet size describes the diameter in 64ths of an inch: a size 13.0 pellet, for example, measures 13.0 × 1/64", or about 0.2".
Mechanical seeders use interchangeable plates, rollers and belts sized for particular pellets. See the seeder resources in our tools and supplies library for charts that match rollers and plates to crops and pellet sizes.
Know your pellet size and pair it with the right plate, belt or roller. The wrong size can mean poor singulation or crushed pellets.
Pelleting choices and combinations
Hensley’s also offers several seed and coating combinations, so growers can pick what fits their system:
- Conventional seed, conventional pellet coating. The pellet type is noted in the product description.
- Conventional seed, NOP-compliant pellet coating. The pellet type is noted in the product description.
- Certified organic seed, NOP-compliant pellet coating. The pellet type is noted in the product description.
Cultural Considerations
Pelleted seed needs a little extra care after sowing: it germinates best with steady, moderate soil moisture the whole time.
The first watering may crack or dissolve the coating. From then on, don't let the soil or mix dry out until the seed has germinated; a coating that only partly splits can stunt or kill the sprouting seed.
Don't overwater either. Waterlogged soil can also hurt germination, because a saturated coating of fine, absorbent minerals can keep the seed from getting the air it needs to breathe.
Shelf Life & Storage Of Pelleted Seed
Pelleting has many benefits, but the process can shorten how long seed stays viable. Plan to sow pelleted seed within a year of buying it. If you have to hold pelleted seed before planting, keep it cool, dark and dry, away from heat and humidity. If you store it in the refrigerator, use an airtight container so it isn't exposed to changing humidity.
