I do not think they have growing tips on the ones sold for food. Not sure why, except to keep them from "going bad" before cooking. Also, I do not think the ones raised for food are the ones we raise for blooms. Same family, but different, or so I have been told. Do not know about being sprayed with anything to keep them from growing, but with no growing tips they will not grow. And yes, seeds are in the bloom heads, often used in dried flower arrangements. That may be what is sprayed to help preserve the pod, and if their are seeds there it may keep them from growing. However, most of the time, when seeds are ripe they simply fall out of the pod so they may be sprayed with a glue or something similar to keep them in the pod, if they are there.