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Tomatoes are one of the most popular fruits to grow in the garden. They oftentimes produce such an abundance of fruit that gardeners can have trouble keeping up with the harvest. Soon, our counters and window sills will be full of ripening tomatoes, and we’ll have to hurry to use, can, or store them properly before they go bad.
The skin of a tomato usually makes it easy to tell when the fruit is getting too ripe. However, sometimes a tomato will look fine on the outside while vivipary, a strange sign of over-ripeness, is happening on the inside. Continue reading to learn about vivipary in tomatoes.
Tomatoes are one of the most popular and delicious crops for any home gardener. And if you’ve ever cut open a tomato to find seeds already sprouting inside, you may have wondered – can I plant these sprouted tomato seeds? The answer is yes! Read on to learn everything you need to know about planting sprouted tomato seeds for a successful harvest.
What Causes Tomato Seeds to Sprout Inside the Tomato?
It’s quite common to discover sprouted seeds when cutting open a ripe tomato. This natural occurrence happens when the tomato is left on the vine past full ripeness. At this overripe stage the gel sacs surrounding each seed begin to break down allowing the seed to germinate.
While an overripe tomato may not be as tasty for eating fresh, the sprouted seeds inside present a great opportunity for starting new tomato plants
Are Sprouted Tomato Seeds Still Viable?
The viability of sprouted tomato seeds depends on their stage of germination. If the sprout is just starting to emerge, the seed can still grow into a healthy plant. However, if the sprout is already elongated and established, the stored food reserves in the seed have likely been depleted, reducing its chances of survival.
For best results, look for seeds with sprouts no longer than 1⁄4 inch emerging from the seed. Carefully remove the gel sac, sprout intact, and proceed with planting.
Step-by-Step Guide to Planting Sprouted Tomato Seeds
With proper care, those sprouted tomato seeds can flourish into productive plants. Follow these simple steps for success:
1. Extract and Dry the Seeds
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Cut open the tomato and scoop out the seeds along with any gel.
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Place seeds in a single layer on paper towels and allow to dry at room temperature for 2-3 days.
2. Prepare Seed Trays
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Fill seed trays or pots with loose, well-draining seed starting mix. Moisten the soil before planting.
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Consider using peat pots for easy transplanting later on.
3. Sow Seeds and Cover Lightly
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Gently place sprouted seeds in the soil, sprout side up. Space 1-2 inches apart.
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Cover seeds with 1⁄4 inch of soil or less. Tomato seeds require light to germinate.
4. Maintain Warmth and Moisture
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Place seeded containers in a warm spot (70-80°F) with bright, indirect light.
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Keep soil moist, but not saturated. Consider using a heat mat for warmth.
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Most sprouted seeds will emerge in 5-10 days. Thin seedlings to final spacing.
5. Transition Seedlings and Transplant Outdoors
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Gradually expose seedlings to outdoor conditions (hardening off) over 7-10 days before transplanting into the garden after all danger of frost.
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Harden off by setting containers outdoors in filtered sunlight, bringing indoors overnight.
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Transplant seedlings 18-36 inches apart into the garden after soil warms above 65°F.
Caring for Transplants in the Garden
With the right care and conditions, tomatoes grown from sprouted seeds can grow just as vigorously as those started from normal seeds. Follow these tips for continued success:
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Pinch off lower leaves and bury leggy stems deeply to establish a good root system.
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Use cages or stakes to support plants as they grow. Prune suckers for best results.
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Water at the base avoiding leaves. Apply mulch to conserve moisture and reduce weeds.
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Fertilize plants according to variety needs, avoiding high nitrogen products.
Harvesting Sprouted Seed Tomatoes
You’ll know your tomato transplants are ready for picking when the fruits reach their mature size and color. Flavor is best when tomatoes are harvested vine ripe. Enjoy the fruits of your labor all season long!
The Takeaway
Discovering sprouted seeds when slicing open a ripe tomato may seem like an odd occurrence. But this natural process presents a unique opportunity for resourceful gardeners. With proper selection and care, those sprouted tomato seeds can grow into robust, productive plants. So next time you cut open an overripe tomato, don’t discard those sprouts – plant them and enjoy homegrown tomatoes!
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Why Are My Tomato’s Seeds Sprouting?
It can be scary to cut into a tomato and see little wavy green or white things mixed in with the seeds. At first glance, many people assume these are worms. That being said, these stringy, wavy things are usually seeds sprouting inside a tomato fruit when you look more closely.
This premature germination of seeds is known as vivipary, which means “live birth” in Latin. Even though vivipary doesn’t happen very often in tomatoes, it does seem to happen more often to some types, like on the vine tomatoes.
Vivipary can also occur in other fruits such as peppers, apples, pears, melons, squash, etc. Vivipary happens when the hormones that keep seeds dormant run out or are worn out. This can happen because the fruit is too ripe or because it doesn’t have enough nutrients. Tobacco plants can go into vivipary if they have too much nitrogen or not enough potassium. The result is seeds germinating in a tomato prematurely.
About Vivipary in Tomatoes
The inside of a tomato fruit becomes a perfect place for seeds to germinate when tomatoes are too ripe or when something else happens in the environment that makes tomato seeds come out of dormancy early. Tomato vivipary sprouts can eventually go through the skin of the tomato if nothing is done. New plants can then start to grow right on the vine or kitchen counter. These seeds sprouting inside a tomato can be allowed to grow into new tomato plants.
However, you should be aware that these sprouts will not produce exact replicas of the parent plant. Additionally, it is important to know that tomato fruits with sprouting vivipary have been said to make people sick. Most of the time, these are fine to eat, but just to be safe (especially if the tomatoes are too ripe), fruits that have tomato vivipary should be thrown away or grown into new plants.
How to Grow Tomato Plants from Store Bought Tomatoes
FAQ
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