06/26/2026
Cutting open a tomato and finding little white sprouts inside can be a surprising sight. A lot of gardeners assume they've discovered worms or some kind of fruit damage, only to realize the tomato is doing something entirely different.
What you're seeing is called vivipary. Instead of remaining dormant, some seeds begin germinating while they're still inside the fruit. It tends to show up more often in very ripe tomatoes, especially during stretches of warm weather when the seeds receive enough moisture and the conditions are right for growth to begin.
The interesting part is that the fruit itself can still look perfectly normal from the outside. Then one slice reveals dozens of tiny seedlings already getting started. Peppers, strawberries, corn, and several other crops can occasionally do the same thing.
For many gardeners, it's one of those reminders that seeds aren't simply waiting for harvest day. Even while they're still tucked inside a fruit, they're constantly responding to their environment and looking for the first opportunity to grow.
