Typical commercial tobacco seed have a test germination of 90 percent although the actual percentage of useable transplants produced may be substantially greater or less than that value. The objective of this research was to study production variables impacting useable transplant yield in the greenhouse float system. Factors investigated included: tobacco variety, seed lots of differing performance characteristics, soilless growing medium, and initial float bay fertilizer concentration. Data were collected on time of seedling emergence and the occurrence of spiral root seedlings. Individual seedlings were identified within a region of each tray and emergence noted on a daily basis from 7 to 14 days after seeding. Spiral root seedlings were noted on days 12 and 14. Digital photographs of each tray recorded the status of seedlings 14 and 21 days after seeding and these seedlings were later evaluated relative to usability prior to transplanting. Measurements were made of float bay and growing medium fertilizer salts level and correlated to seedling mortality and useable transplant yield. Results reveal significant differences in seedling emergence rates and spiral root incidence between seed lots and varieties tested. These factors had a significant impact on useable transplants obtained. Likewise, survival rates of late germinating or spiral root seedlings were quantified. Development of seedlings to useable transplants was negatively impacted by elevated fertilizer salts level in the growing medium. Increased useable transplant yields resulted with the delay in fertilizer addition to the float bay water from the day seedling to 7 days after seeding.