Can I grow tomatoes from grocery store fruits?
Written by
Julia Anderson
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.You can grow your tomatoes from the fruits you buy in the store if you have a game plan. Hybrids usually produce uncertain offspring, and heirlooms seem to replicate the original plant. I have grown 12 varieties this way and some did well, while others did not do so well. You will want to use ultra-ripe, organic tomatoes to start from if you want a good chance of getting viable seeds.
Fermentation Process
- Extract seeds: Scoop gel-covered seeds into a jar
- Add water: Cover seeds, let sit 3 days until mold forms
- Rinse/dry: Strain, rinse, dry on parchment for 1 week
Hybrid vs. Heirloom
- Hybrids: 40% germination rate, unpredictable traits
- Heirlooms: 85% germination, true-to-type fruits
- Store-bought: Often hybrids; check for 'heirloom' labels
Begin seeds 6-8 weeks ahead of the last frost date indoors. Utilize seed trays with heating mats for soil temperatures of around 75°F (24°C). I had the 'Beefsteak' tomato from a store that took 14 days to germinate, this was a slower germination time than seeds from my local nursery. Move hardened seedlings into 5-gallon containers that are filled with soil and have drainage holes in the bottom.
Low Germination
- Cause: Old seeds, improper drying
- Fix: Soak in chamomile tea 24 hours pre-planting
- Prevent: Store seeds in airtight jars with silica packs
Disease Prevention
- Sterilize: Dip seeds in 10% bleach solution pre-fermentation
- Soil: Use sterile seed-starting mix
- Spacing: Avoid crowding seedlings
Set expectations.My ‘Kumato' hybrid bore bland fruit, while a rescue ‘Brandywine' heirloom seed thrived. Keep records in a journal, noting flavor, yields, and overall plant health. Even failures provide valuable experience on the importance of genetics and seed viability.
Read the full article: How to Grow Tomatoes: Complete Beginner's Guide
