Lollipop seedling.

[Bren In Pots]

I got something odd with one of my chilli seedlings it's half inch tall but still has the seed attached so it looks like a lollipop. Not too sure what to do with it do i leave it alone or try to remove the hard seed shell.

[Nicos]

Leave it for now- They generally drop off

( I've tried removing the seed case on a tomato in the past- and accidentally yanked the whole seedling out of the soil, snapping off the roots or torn off the leaves)

If you really can't resist a 'fiddle' the try gently nudging it with a match

[Bren In Pots]

I've tried nudging it Nicos but it seems firmly fixed

[Nicos]

Leave it for now then- as the leaves get bigger they should force it off.

I have seen a couple where I've 'had' to remove them because the leaves were becoming very deformed compared to the other seedlings though...and really delaying the growing.

Can you post a piccie??

[Florence Fennel]

I have had two or three with the seed attached, I generally leave them and they drop off.

[Bren In Pots]

Can you post a piccie??

Too late I know I should have left it alone its now headless and in the bin.

[Nicos]

...well- THAT'S one way of solving the problem!!!

...what are ya like- I KNEW you couldn't resist a 'fiddle' ???

[Bren In Pots]

I did think posting here might have made me leave it alone.

I'm bad I've killed my seedling

[King Carrot]

I've read that this stuck on seedcase thing is more common with older and drier seeds. Apparently a drop of saliva or spit twice a day around the stuck on seedcase can help the leaves throw off the seedcase as the saliva helps to weaken (digest) the hard seedcase. I tried this for two days but you still require a lot of patience as I discovered earlier this week when I pulled the seed leaves off my tomato seedling with the seedcase

I think it's better to soak the seedcase and then wait 4 or 5 days before attempting removal, people also use tweezers to gently crack and weaken the case just like you can with a nut.

[Nicos]

I'm bad I've killed my seedling

....bad mommy

[Shadylane]

I've had a few like this, some came off if you gently removed them, some didn't and some never showed signs of it dropping off. I reckon if it can't even shed it's own seed case then it aint gonna amount to much. They do seem to be a bit weaker growers but I have no proof of this.

[Flummery]

I'm another advocate of spit! I wet my finger and thumb each time I walk past the seedling and dampen it. It does help. Pulling them off rarely does.

[Bren In Pots]

Thanks for the spit idea I'll try that if it ever happens again.

[Nicos]

Spit??...well there ya go- I've never heard of that one!

[Headfry]

Guilty as charged!! I cant resist a fiddle and the result is usually a 'broken' seedling ooops
Also prone to poking around in the compost if I think things should be showing by now

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