Performance of Tomato and Pepper Seeds Germinated before Planting1

Seeds of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) were either germinated before planting, primed (immersed in an aerated solution of potassium phosphate and ammonium phosphate for 72 hours (tomato) or 120 hours (pepper) and dried), or left untreated (raw) and then planted with gel in loamy sand and sandy soils. There was little difference in response from the tomato seed treatments. In pepper, germinated seeds emerged much earlier and established heavier plants. Differences in emergence due to seed treatments generally were greater in loamy sand than in sandy soil.