Tomatoes – Growing From a Ripened Tomatoe Seed

Q: I bought a delicious tomato from a vegetable stand. I know the tomato was picked green, shipped to Atlanta, and allowed to ripen in a cardboard box. I would like to grow tomatoes with seeds from this fruit. Am I going to be able to do this?

A: I very much doubt it. You’re correct that tomatoes are typically picked just as they turn red and ripened during shipping. My bet is that the seeds are too immature to sprout for you.