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Wait… What is inside my tomato?

This afternoon I went food shopping because I had a hankering for a simple lettuce and tomato salad.

I washed and prepared the lettuce. Washed the tomato. Cut the tomato. Placed some of the tomato on the lettuce. Then noticed something odd.

Tomato Seeds Sprouting

2018 November 15 Afternoon

On closer look, it became clear that several tomato seeds were sprouting inside the tomato.

Tomato Seeds Sprouting

2018 November 15 Afternoon

Apparently, I was under the mistaken notion that tomato seeds cannot sprout inside the fruit.

Tomato Seeds Sprouting

2018 November 16 Morning

Tomato Seeds Sprouting

2018 November 16 Morning

College Of Agriculture, Health And Natural Resources Extension

Vivipary happens when the hormone controlling the seed dormancy is exhausted or runs out, letting the seed grow in the moist environment inside the fruit.

B. Rosie Lerner, Purdue Extension Consumer Horticulturist

In tomatoes, cool temperatures coupled with low light conditions (such as in refrigeration) is thought to inhibit that particular PGR (plant-growth regulators), thus allowing the seeds to germinate inside the moist, warm environment of the fruit, when brought back to room temperature.

The sprouts of tomato seeds are toxic, so you should not eat the fruit.


Since I had tossed some of the cut tomato into my salad I removed it and rewashed the lettuce.

What should I do with the rest of the tomatoes that I purchased?

Purchased Tomatoes

Purchased Tomatoes Stickers

Outrageously Fresh? Sure they could be. Perhaps what could have happened–the tomatoes
were chilled between harvest and the shelf in the grocery store.

If I don’t slice the tomatoes could the seeds sprout and emerge through the skin? That would be very cool.

What should I do with the sprouting seeds? Plant them?
No guarantee what I might get if any of the seedlings survive.


It Was a Brilliant Green Caterpillar

I noticed a lot of damage to this plant, but couldn’t find the culprit.

Green and Purple Plant

Green and Purple Plant

Green and Purple Plant

Until Wednesday. How could I miss this caterpillar?

Green Caterpillar

Green Caterpillar

Since I am not sure who he is, decided to leave him. To wait and see. Pretty sure he is a moth of sorts.

The plant is probably a Plectranthus. I purchased it on a whim from the neighborhood grocery store.

It is a fast grower. Easy to propagate by snapping off a piece and either placing the piece in a small amount of water or popping it directly in soil.


Blue is the Color of Hope and Change

There are some amazing candidates that have given me hope that our country can overcome the cruelty of the current administration.

Their truthful words and positive messages have already changed our country.

The current administration assaults our country, other countries, and the people who live in our country and those who live all over the world. The assaults occur multiple times a day, every single day.

Stacey Abrams, “We must cease being participants in our own oppression.”

Beto O’Rourke, “At the moment that [these children] finally thought they had reached safety, refuge, were going to petition for asylum, they were taken from their parents, and are now in Tornillo with no idea of when or if they will see their mothers or their fathers on this Father’s Day again.”

Andrew Gillum, “I’m not calling him a racist. But the racists believe he’s a racist.”


Stacey Abrams quote can be found on the Black Enterprise site.

Beto O’Rourke quote can be found on Politico.

Andrew Gillum quote is from a recent debate. Can also be found on several sites including the Washington Post.


Mom Penny Memorial In Progress

I put the memorial penny piece for my mother on hold. Just wasn’t in a place to work on it.

Mom Memorial Knit Piece

I needed to full the piece, stitch the pennies into the triangles, and add coded dates to years that had special events.

Mom Memorial Stacks of Pennies

The silver colored penny is from 1943 and steel.

This morning I fulled the knitted piece, now waiting for it to dry.

Also ordered a box to house the piece. I have been looking for a box and last week found this one.

The images are from the Etsy shop Superior Vintage Goods.

The patina and hardware wowed me.

Box Closed

Box Clasp

Box Hinges

I love the dovetail joints.

Box Open

The interior looks really clean. Relieved I will not need to line the interior. I like the idea of the knitted piece resting next to the wood.

Wool, wood, and pennies are lovely together.

The box should arrive next week. Hope to get all of the stitchwork done before it arrives. My parents’ wedding anniversary is the 11th. It would be great to complete the piece for one of Mom’s special days.