Ashleigh Smith
Why Is My Seed Germinating Inside The Fruit?
A few weeks ago I was cutting a spaghetti squash in half when I came across a stray seed germinating from WITHIN the squash. I thought, “What in the world?” This was so weird to me. I have never seen that happen before. While it isn’t common, it can happen. This premature germination within the fruit is called vivipary. Since I found it interesting I thought I would share some information about it with you.
What Is Vivipary?
The name is latin based with a meaning of “live birth”. Basically the hormones responsible for advantageous germination are deficient. Because the seed no longer has hormones telling it not to germinate it moves forward with poor growing conditions.
At other times the growth factors are falsely tricked into thinking growing conditions are right, like when the fruit is warm and the seed is moist. This is why the vivipary process is most commonly seen in corn, tomatoes, peppers, pears, and citrus fruits.
If you see this happen in your produce, don’t worry. It doesn’t cause your food to spoil. Simply remove the sprout and plant it if you want. With access to nutrients in the soil your sprout should gain strength as it further develops.
As for the fruit you harvested the seedling from, depending on how long the fruit has been in that state it may start to have a bitter taste to it. You see, as the seed started to germinate it was taking nutrients from the parent fruit which are essential to its quality.
How To Prevent Vivipary
Even though it is not super common, you can take steps to avoid vivipary. The best way is to harvest your crops at the peak of freshness. Because you want to keep the seeds from recognizing they are in a moist and warm environment, don’t let your harvest sit in the field for too long.
While fruit still warm from the sun is delicious, it can also lead to that natural signal for germination. Bringing your harvest inside will help the fruit to cool, keeping the seed dormant.
If you are planning on saving your seed for the next season you won’t really be able to tell if this process is happening until you start harvesting your seed. I wouldn’t worry much about it anyways because it isn’t a persistent problem among growers.
However if you want to take some extra precautions, do some research on the varieties you are wanting to plant. Specifically look for problems with premature germination within the fruit. As seed growers have gained experience over the years, varieties with this common problem have had notes made regarding alternative options that are less prone to pregermination.
About the Author
I'm Ashleigh Smith, a native to Northern Utah. I first gained a love of gardening with my grandmother as I helped her each summer. I decided to make a career of it and have recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Horticulture from Brigham Young University - Idaho. My studies have focused on plant production while I also have experience in Nursery & Garden Center Operations.
Become a True Leaf Market Brand Ambassador! You’ll enjoy awesome perks, free products and exclusive swag & offers! Help us create a gardening revolution and help others experience the joy of growing!
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
1 comments
Lynn
Hi! I appreciate the Seed Viability article as everything is getting more expensive and I rarely plant an entire seed packet. can one plant the sprouted seeds?
Further Reading
Reviewing the Aquatree Garden: A True Leaf Market Experience
The AquaTree Garden is an innovative growing experience! This nifty appliance allows you to grow leafy greens, microgreens, herbs, large sprouts, and vegetable starts (like tomatoes) all at once! When it comes to indoor gardening, there is no question ...
Ashleigh Smith
2024-04-225 min read1Parasitoid Wasps: A Beneficial Insect in the Garden
Written By Lara Wadsworth There are estimated to be around one million different species of parasitic wasps worldwide. In fact, most wasps are parasitic, which means they live on or in a host at the host's expense. For common garden pests like aphids, ...
Ashleigh Smith
2024-04-226 min read0Succession Planting: The Key to a Continual Harvest
Do you find yourself harvesting large amounts of any given vegetable from your garden all at once? There is a solution! The practice of succession planting, or planting in segments over a period of time, allows you to harvest root vegetables, leafy gre...
Ashleigh Smith
2024-04-223 min read210 Natives of the Southwest USA for Pest Control
Written By Lara Wadsworth The Southwestern United States is a region incredibly unique to the rest of the country. The hot, dry weather can be challenging for plants and animals to thrive without additional help. That is why gardening with natives can ...
Ashleigh Smith
2024-04-157 min read0