3,064. Seeds That Weren't Actually Planted

Hilchos Kilayim 5:16

Let’s say that a vine has dried out and its leaves have fallen off, as happens in the winter. In such a case, one may not plant vegetables or grain next to it, but if he does so, it doesn’t become sanctified. Similarly, if one plants such species in an unperforated flowerpot in a vineyard, the produce isn’t sanctified, though he is given stripes for acting rebelliously. Planting in a perforated flowerpot, however, is the same as planting in the ground.

Hilchos Kilayim 5:17

Let’s say that someone was passing through a vineyard and he dropped seeds, or seeds were brought in with fertilizer or water, or he was planting or winnowing in a grain field and the wind carried away seeds that fell into a vineyard and sprouted. In all of these cases, the growth is not sanctified. This is because Deuteronomy 22:9 (cited in halacha 5:13) says “that you planted” and these weren’t planted. However, he is still required to uproot the growth when he sees it; if he allows it to remain, then it becomes sanctified. If the wind carried away the seeds and he saw them fall in the vineyard, it’s the same as if he planted them. If the grass of these seeds grows, it is sufficient for him to turn it over with a plow. If he found that the plants have ripened, he should crush that which has ripened because it’s prohibited to benefit from any of it. If he finds that the grain has sprouted, he must burn it. If he saw it and allowed it to remain, then it must be burned along with the vines next to which it grew.