Because of this, the seeds will have two different genes and produce a different plant from the parent. These plants, such as tomatoes, corn, squash, have separate male and female flowers requiring pollinators such as bees or wind to pass the pollen from one cultivar to the stigma of a different plant.

On the other hand, plants that are not true-to-type need to be cross-pollinated or outbred. Plants that can grow true to seed include most peas, beans, and heirloom tomatoes like “Brandywine” and “Black Cherry”. This results in plants very similar to their parent because they contain two exact sets of genes. Plants with true-to-type seeds are inbred or self-pollinated with closed flowers where the plant’s pollen is transferred to its own stigma. Whether a plant is true to seed depends on how the seed is fertilized or pollinated. “True to seed” or “true to type” are terms used to describe plant seeds that will grow into plants that are identical to their parents in terms of taste, texture, and appearance.

Conclusion What does “true to seed” mean?.

Growing clementines from seed