All Gurney’s Pea and Sweet Corn Seed Varieties Are Now Treated!
Some people don’t know what to think when they hear the words “treated seed.” Is that a good thing? Is it bad? What does “treated” mean? Why is this blogger pretending that I am vicariously asking questions through him?
Well, folks, I’m here to dispel any predispositions you may have about treated seed. The truth is this: treated seed is a very good thing! It simply provides extra protection against less than ideal growing conditions. That means you can plant earlier without the worry of rotting seed from cold, wet early spring weather. This treatment also ensures better germination as well as enhanced resistance to soil-borne diseases and fungi.
When I heard that we were introducing treated seed in our spring 2010 catalog, I was very excited. Treated seed is so much easier to grow, because it has a hard coating to enhance germination and plant strength. This hard coating protects the seed until soil temperatures reach the proper temperature, which allows you to plant the seed earlier than you normally would. The coating also protects against diseases and fungus.
And now, for the first time, all of our pea seed and sweet corn seed varieties are treated, including customer favorite, Gotta Have it Hybrid Sweet Corn! Check out all of our pea seed varieties here, and all of our sweet corn varieties here.
Are any of your seeds genetically modified?
Great question. GMO seeds are something that we take very seriously here. We screen all of our growers and only use the most reputable sources. We take great care to inspect our seeds and do not sell any GMO seeds that we are aware of.
This is a pretty vague description. There is no mention about how the seed is treated. If there is a coating of fungicide on it, then it doesn’t conform with organic standards, and we can’t use it.
We do treat some of our seeds, specifically our pea and sweet corn seed varieties. The treated seed is coated with a hard coating to enhance germination and protect the seed. We screen all of our growers and only use the most reputable sources. Some of our plant and seed suppliers do use certain solutions for ensuring the health of the crop. Only crops certified by the USDA as Organic can be 100% guaranteed to be organic. Having said that, Gurney’s stands by the quality of all the products that we offer. If you’re looking for a good source of 100% Organic seed/plants, our friends at Gardens Alive do have a great many Organic plants and seeds available this spring http://www.gardensalive.com/category.asp?c=426
Hope this helps!
I like the idea of treated seed, and especially seed that can be planted earlier. However, I am concerned with the chemicals used in treatment of the seed. The most common treatments are neonicotinoids, especially Imadocloprin and Thiamethoxam, chemical compounds made to mimic the insecticidal and fungicidal properties of nicotine. However, the introduction of these (often persistent) chemicals to seeds and soil, which then erodes into the local watershed, has been linked to massive die-offs of honey bees- major agricultural pollinators (though admittedly, that data is subject to a modest amount of contest). Especially in the case of Thiamethoxam, the water-solubility of the chemicals makes them even more likely to make it into the water table (and flowers and pollen of the treated plants). If the seeds are treated with neonicotinoids, it seems that consumers should be made aware of it, so that they can make an informed and environmentally conscious decisions. Though, thats only an amateur gardener’s observation.
What are your seeds treated with?
I bought corn seeds from Gurneys last year and after opening them, I realized they were “treated seeds”. I planted them anyway just because I had them in my hand. Next spring I don’t want to use any “treated seeds”.
I’ve read your rational here regarding your seed and just don’t buy into it. It seems to me, that for a small time home gardeners, we should be able to buy non-treated seeds if we want to use them.
Sorry, but I’ll skip Gurney this year.
The normal method of ‘treating’ these seeds is to coat them with the neuro-toxic insecticides: Clothianidin, Thiamethoxam and Imidacloprid – all of which belong to the neonicotnoid family of pesticides. These poisons are absorbed into the ENTIRE plant roots, sap, leaves, pollen, nectar and fruit or grain (corn and peas).
If your seed is treated with this poison you should come out and say so. Personally, I tend not to deliberately eat food that is perfused with a highly persistent, brain-damaging pesticide. i’m just funny that way.
I came to Gurney’s excited to place my spring order, very disappointed to find that the seeds are now treated. I will be placing my order elsewhere!
I hope that, in the near future, Gurney’s will offer a non-treated option. We have grown Kandy Korn for years. It is our main corn crop for freezing because it stays sweet and tastes just like fresh out of the freezer. It is our big treat for Sunday Dinner on a cold winter day. We don’t use chemicals in our vegetable garden, so I was sad last year to find my corn and pea seed treated. Fortunately I had leftover untreated seed from 2009 which grew great.(I had ordered online and didn’t notice the information about this before I ordered.)
I have found another company to order from seeds from this year which offers treated and non-treated options for many of their varieties. We will grow one of their varieties of corn, but we will miss our beautiful stalks and ears (and flavor) of Kandy Korn for sure. Please consider a non-treated option for next year’s catalog.
THANK YOU for years of great seeds, from a grandma who grows veggies for her grandkids in Michigan.
I just opened the peas I ordered. Sure was surprised to see they were pink. I’ll be throwing them out, and won’t be ordering again.
I do not intend to knowingly purchase genetically modified seeds or plants. I am only interested in purchasing organic, non treated plants and seeds. Please provide these options in your upcoming catalogs or I shall seek same from other vendors. Thank you!
Gary