For context, I have no idea where this plant came from. We live on the 12th floor near Sydney’s CBD, close to a pretty high-traffic street, and there are no veggie gardens or plants nearby. My best guess is that maybe a bird or the wind dropped a seed onto our balcony?
At first, I thought it was just a random weed, but once I realised it was a tomato plant, I started watering it religiously, and now it’s grown quite large (see last photo).
Now I’m wondering… are the tomatoes actually safe to eat once they are ripe?
The pot (with bromeliad plant?) was gifted to me years ago, so I don’t know what kind of soil it has or if anything has been added to it. The bromeliad itself was pretty infested with what I think were mealybugs and the leaves were dry, so I’ve since thrown that out.
The tomato plant does have some small black bugs, but otherwise looks healthy, and so do the tomatoes.
One more thing: I’m currently pregnant, so I want to be extra cautious about anything I eat.
Would you eat these? Or better not risk it?
by Tiny-Mirror1158
12 Comments
of course you can. tomatoes are one of those things that just pop up randomly, often from birds like you said. once they start to ripen you can pull them off and let them finish ripening on a windowsill if youre worried about the weather cooling down
I’d be cutting the green fruits off to ripen indoors and avoid pests.
Slightly peeved at your accidental success. Want updates.
Indeed – either ripe or green – recipes for fried green tomatoes as well as green tomato chutneys
They will in all likelihood be the best tomatoes you have in your life.
There’s nothing in the soil that can transmit to the fruit that will cause you issues, unless you’ve like, been watering them from a lead watering can. I grew windowsill tomatoes while pregnant with my youngest, at a property so close the Pacific highway we’d get road dust through the place that smelled of tyres. The tomatoes were gorgeous and the resulting kid is eight now and is none the worse for it.
Just keep them watered and keep doing what you’re doing and in a week or two those will turn red. About the only thing I can say is watch out for the bird that left the seed there in the first place – they clearly know how good a tomato can be!
Fried Green Tomatoes, great recipe, book and film
You can harvest them!
I would suggest putting them in a brown paper bag to ripen on a windowsill though
Tomato seeds are hardy little buggers and birds often do their spreading and sowing for them.
Perfectly safe to eat assuming you normally can safely eat tomatoes and aren’t allergic
The only tomatoes to avoid are the ones growing near creeks or sewage.
On site today had maybe 50 tomato plants and don’t wanna think what I’m walking through
Old mate’s lucked onto balcony tomatoes that look fantastic and is wondering if it’s cursed. Just eat them mate! They’ll be the best ones you’ve ever had.
Why would you risk your baby with advice you receive on Reddit?
Enjoy when when they turn red
Do you have a mouth?