What adventitious plants can be found in a typical vegetable garden?

Tomato plants, particularly heirloom varieties, and tomatillos may produce small growths with short, fleshy, bristles. These are adventitious roots or aerial roots which would grow into normal roots if placed in contact with the soil. The degree to which a gardener will see this is determined by cultivar, weather conditions and culture.

More Info: extension.umd.edu

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62 Comments

Bob Rodger

Tomatoes are a fruit not a vegetable.

David Ching

Maize (Zea mays), aka 'corn' also has adventitious roots

Laurie Johnson Gonzalez

Here is the definition of "adventitious": "Happening or carried on according to chance rather than design." This means any of these plants could show up in a vegetable garden by chance and not design. Do you know how? By leaving the "fruit" in the garden in one year, it can seed itself and grow in your garden in subsequent years. Or maybe seeds can be carried by animals or the wind. I have had that happen with all kinds of plants, including tomatoes, squash, and sunflowers.

Gerryman

Bob Rodger, ....but don't put them into a fruit salad.

Dennis Walker

The question does not mention fruits or vegetables ... only vegetable garden. Other fruits like the zucchini are also commonly grown in vegetable gardens

Lellie Jackson

Chris Braid, what the Americans call courgettes

Jennifer Dyster

Bob Rodger, yes, botanically, but in the culinary world, they function as a vegetable. They go in stews and salads, not desserts and in a garden, you grow them with your veges, not your roses.