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The Daily Insight

Will seeds from store bought vegetables grow?

Author

Daniel Martin

Updated on March 02, 2026

Some, in fact most, commercially available vegetables are grown from hybrid seeds. This means that when you plant the seed from those vegetables they will probably germinate but what you will end up with won't be the same as the vegetable you just ate. Also some hybrid seed is sterile and won't germinate.

Keeping this in view, can you plant seeds from store bought vegetables?

Editor: Rebecca, you could certainly try, especially if you have produce from a local farmers market. It's great to try growing heirloom varieties yourself. But a lot of produce from the grocery store will be hybrid varieties that will either not reproduce at all from seed, or revert back to an earlier variety.

Furthermore, can you plant seeds from store bought tomatoes? Most ordinary tomatoes you buy from the supermarket are not suitable for seed saving, because they are F1 hybrids. Instead you should look for an heirloom or open pollinated variety to save seeds from, which will produce an identical plant to the original.

Regarding this, will seeds from store bought peppers grow?

The typical seeds from a grocery store bell pepper aren't likely to sprout, and if they do they probably won't produce fruit like the one you collected the seeds from. Open-pollinated, garden grown peppers usually produce viable seed true to the parent plant.

Can you grow zucchini from store bought?

Squash (Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash)

Again, this is assuming you already have some organic, heirloom-seed grown squash in your pantry—or even if you don't, take a chance! Take about three seeds and make a little “hill” of dirt around them. Alternatively, you can plant them about 1 inch down in the soil.

Related Question Answers

What vegetables can you grow from store bought?

How to Grow Fruits & Vegetables from Food Scraps
  • Celery. Remove roughly 2 inches from the base of a bunch of celery and place in a shallow bowl with water, spraying the top daily to keep it moist.
  • Herbs.
  • Garlic.
  • Ginger.
  • Green Onions.
  • Lettuce.
  • Peppers*
  • Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes.

Can you grow cucumbers from store bought?

Yes, you can grow new cucumber plants from store-bought cucumbers. I do it by letting the seeds dry out to prevent mold growth then plant during the next year's growing season. You can grow any plant from existing plant's seeds.

Should soak seeds before planting?

Soaking seeds before planting helps you to break down the seed's natural defenses against what it expects from Mother Nature, which then allows it to germinate faster. Another reason is that while Mother Nature actively assaults seeds, she also gave those seeds an internal gauge to help them know when they should grow.

Can you grow broccoli from store bought?

Celery, Head Lettuce, Cabbage and Broccoli

All of these veggies will regrow from the white root end when placed in a shallow dish. Cut the stalks off and use as you would normally, then cover the roots with water but don't submerge the top of the cutting. Occasionally mist the cutting with water to keep the top moist.

Can you plant fresh seeds?

Growing seeds is a cost effective way to garden. However, planting fresh seeds is not as simple as just sticking them in the ground. Once you harvest the seeds, you must take several steps to prepare them for planting. These steps increase the chance for germination and successful plant growth.

How long does it take to grow peppers from seed?

Plant peppers in a bed that receives full sun.

Most sweet peppers mature in 60-90 days; hot peppers can take up to 150 days. Keep in mind, however, that the number of days to maturity stated on the seed packet refers to the days after transplanting until the plant produces a full-sized fruit.

Can I plant a whole tomato?

The seeds in a tomato are mature. The seeds contained in a fresh tomato look just the same as the seeds in a seed packet bought from a garden supply store. Under the right circumstances, these seeds can grow into tomato plants for next year's garden.

Can you grow plants from store bought fruit?

Answer: That depends on the fruit's maturity. For example, fruit from store-bought tomatoes will normally be fertile and easy to germinate, as tomatoes are generally ripe when they are harvested and ripe fruits bear mature seeds. This is also the case for melons and most tree fruits (plums, cherries, oranges, etc.).

Should I germinate tomato seeds before planting?

When you germinate tomato seeds before planting them, they have a greater chance of growing into seedlings than those you sow directly. You'll give your seeds a jump start on the growing season. Plus, you'll get more plants from the same amount of seeds that you sow directly into your indoor pots.

Do tomato seeds need to be dried before planting?

3 Answers. Tomato seeds that have never been dried can germinate. Seeds will still germinate with the gel sacks after drying, in my experience (but maybe not as many, and there may be drawbacks to this). Generally, however, people recommend that you ferment your seeds before storing (and probably before planting).

How long does a seed need to dry before planting?

Let the seeds rest for a week to ten days before gently stirring them with your finger or a small spoon. Let them dry for another two to three weeks. At this point, they should be dry enough to put into storage.

How do you ferment tomato seeds for planting?

  1. Step 1: The Jar, the Gel Sac, and Tomato Seeds.
  2. Step 2: Scrape the Tomato Seeds Into a Bowl and Pour Them Into the Jar.
  3. Step 3: Seal the Jar and Let It Ferment for 5-7 Days.
  4. Step 4: After 7 Days, Pour the Contents Into a Sieve and Rinse.
  5. Step 5: Dry the Tomato Seeds and Label Them.
  6. Step 6: Store Your Tomato Seeds.

Are used coffee grounds good for tomato plants?

Coffee grounds added to compost and used in the garden as organic fertilizer give your tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants a boost, attract earthworms and may deter both slugs and insect pests in the garden. Keep coffee grounds to no more than 20 percent of the material included in your compost.

Can you plant seeds from a zucchini?

When zucchini is at it's edible state, it is an immature fruit. To successfully save seeds from zucchini, you have to let the fruits get mega. You have to leave them on the plant well after you would want to eat them.

Can you grow raspberries from store bought fruit?

Most commercially available raspberry shrubs are propagated vegetatively, but gardeners can successfully grow the plants at home using fresh seeds. Place fresh, ripe raspberries in a mesh colander. Set the colander in a sink. Crush the berries against the side of the colander while running water over them.

What fruit can you grow from scraps?

Peaches, nectarines and plums can all be grown from their seeds. Note that it does take a couple of years before you will be able to get any fruit from trees that you grow from seed but it will definitely be worth it if you begin now.

Can you grow asparagus from store bought?

The asparagus spears bought at the grocery store are shoots that grow from underground crowns. They tend to cost a little more than other vegetables because they're only harvested for a short time period each year, and it's a lot of work to get each delicate spear out of the ground.

Can you plant store bought beans?

Only dry beans can germinate, so choose from those in the bulk dry bins or those that are bagged. Not all bean seeds from the grocery store are viable. Some may be too old to germinate well, while others are irradiated so they won't sprout.