Seeds Sprouting Inside Tomatoes

[Irv Wiseguy]

I tried serching for this subject but didn't see any relevant discussions.

On a lot of late season Champion tomatoes last year when I cut into the fruit some of the seeds had sprouted. I was curious how common this is.

Thanks

Irv

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Irv Wiseguy

I tried serching for this subject but didn't see any relevant discussions.

On a lot of late season Champion tomatoes last year when I cut into the fruit some of the seeds had sprouted. I was curious how common this is.

Thanks

Irv

Irv, quite common when it comes to shipped in tomatoes when they're kept in cool storage for quite a while and also not that uncommon with the soft fleshed gold/red bicolors.

I can't speak to your Champion tomatoes but I don't see why it wouldn't happen.

Usually someone puts up a picture with the seedlings germinating on the inside and some pushing through the cell wall and freaks out totally.

[Worth1]

Let me indulge.

[RayR]

Wow, that's weird. Never had that happen.
I guess the gel doesn't work too well as a germination inhibitor on some varieties?

[tam91]

Ewww, that looks kinda creepy actually. Like a tomato with hair.

[VGary]

I transplanted by seedlings late due to weeks and weeks of rain. So, they are just beginning to mature here after weeks of extreme heat! I cut one early in the week and discovered the seed had started to germinate; tasted it! It was a yucky tomato for sure. I will keep an eye on that variety.
Happy Hardening to us all!
Gary

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by RayR

Wow, that's weird. Never had that happen.
I guess the gel doesn't work too well as a germination inhibitor on some varieties?

THe gel works very well actually. The gernination inhibor within the gel has a purpose and it's part of the life cycle of the tomato. It prevents germination of the seeds when conditions are NOT suitable for germination and plant growth.

So fruits that fall to the ground in cold weather have seeds that won't germinate until the next Spring, which we know as volunteers.

But conditions inside a ripe tomato are OK for seeds to germinate and as I said above it's mainly store bought fruits that have been shipped in and stored at coolish temps as well as the bicolors that have soft flesh that allow for seeds to germinate, either on the inside or through the skin as Worh sowed, or for both on the same fruit. Of course it can also happen with the fruits of other varieties aas well,depending on the variables.

Just another little window into the normal life cycle of tomatoes as they existed in the wilds of the high plateaus of Chile and Peru and that trait has been passed on to our domesticated garden tomato.

[lakelady]

Eww that was kinda gross !

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by lakelady

Eww that was kinda gross !

I know this is a wee bit off topic but to show you just how bizarre life can be I will now submit this little video for you veiwing pleasure.
Worth

[PaulF]

Seeds germinate inside pumpkins and squash as well. It happens occasionally. Worth's tomato photo is otherworldly. Cool!

[Tracydr]

All my spaghetti squash this year had germinated seeds inside. What causes that in squash? It was an extremely hot, dry summer. Highs were well above 110 most days.