Question:
On Shabbos, may I throw fruit seeds or pits onto the ground outside? Are there any concerns depending on where I throw them? I was sitting outside on Shabbos with a friend on a bench, eating an apple. After finishing, I threw the apple core over my fence onto the grass. My friend told me that he heard it’s not allowed to do this on Shabbos because it could be considered planting. I responded that I was just throwing something away—how is that planting? Who is correct?
Answer:
Your friend is correct to raise a concern. It is forbidden to throw seeds in a place where they may grow, such as moist ground or areas that receive rain. However, it is permitted to throw them in places where they will certainly not grow, such as pathways where people walk or where they will quickly be destroyed or eaten. Thus, throwing an apple core onto grass or soil where it could potentially grow may involve an issue of planting (zore’a).
Explanation:
One must be careful on Shabbos not to engage in actions that may lead to planting (zore’a). Throwing seeds or pits onto the ground can potentially lead to their taking root and growing, which raises a halachic concern.
Therefore, the Rishonim and Poskim rule that one should not throw seeds in areas where the ground is moist or where rainfall is common, since these conditions can cause the seeds to sprout. The Ketzos Hashulchan writes that this restriction may apply even in seasons without current rainfall, as the seeds could remain intact until conditions later allow them to grow. Nevertheless, since this outcome is not inevitable, the concern may be categorized as a precaution rather than a definite prohibition.
On the other hand, it is permitted to throw seeds in locations where they will certainly not grow, such as heavily trafficked areas where people regularly walk and the seeds will be crushed. In such cases, there is no realistic possibility of planting.
Similarly, if one is feeding animals, such as chickens, it is permissible to give them only the amount of seeds they will consume within a short time (e.g., the next day or two), since the seeds will certainly be eaten before any chance of germination.
One point that requires clarification is the role of psik reisha (certainty of outcome). The general rule in hilchos Shabbos is that when a result is not inevitable, it does not constitute a full prohibition. This is evident from the Alter Rebbe (siman 336:17), who permits placing barley into water for animals, even though some may remain and eventually sprout, since at the time of the action it is not certain (lo psik reisha) that this will occur. This seems to contradict the earlier ruling (336:10) that one should not throw seeds onto the ground in an area where they may grow, even though it is likewise not certain that they will sprout. The resolution appears to be that there is no true contradiction: when the outcome is not inevitable, it is not an outright prohibition, and therefore the wording there is that one should be careful, rather than that it is strictly forbidden. This is unlike the case of soaking seeds with intent for sprouting, which constitutes an actual melachah and Biblical prohibition. Accordingly, even where it is not a psik reisha, one should avoid throwing seeds in a place where they may grow—either because the situation comes close to certainty, or because it resembles planting and may lead to benefiting from the growth.
With respect to apple seeds, although the likelihood that an apple seed will develop into a full apple tree is quite low, this does not automatically render it permitted. The concern is not limited to the seed eventually becoming a tree, but even to the initial stage of sprouting, which itself is included in the melachah of zore’a. Since the chance of basic sprouting is significantly higher than the chance of full tree development—particularly when the seed lands in soil with moisture—it remains an action from which one should refrain in areas where growth is possible.
Sources:
Admur 336:10 “One must be careful not to throw seeds in a place where rain falls, since they will ultimately grow there. If one is throwing seeds to chickens, he should only throw an amount that they will eat that day or within two days. However, if it is an area where people commonly walk, it is permitted, since the seeds will not eventually grow there, and there is no issue of planting (zore’a).”; Admur 336:17 “One who soaks wheat, barley, or similar items in water in order that they sprout has performed a derivative of the melachah of planting (zore’a) and is liable even for the smallest amount. This applies when they are soaked for a significant amount of time. However, it is permitted to place barley in water in order to feed animals immediately. Even if some will remain in the water after feeding, this is not a problem, since at the time they were placed in the water it was not inevitable (not a psik reisha) that they would sprout, as it is possible that the animals will eat all of them.”; Michaber 336:4; Darkei Moshe 336:1 in name of Kol Bo 36; Hagahos Mordechai Shabbos 7; Yireim 274; Hagahos Maimanis 8 Os Gomel; Chayeh Adam 11 Nishmas Adam 1; M”B 336:31; Ashel Avraham Butchach 336; Daas Torah 336; Kaf Hachaim 336:25-37; Ketzos Hashulchan 142 footnote 19; Shevet Halevi 7:94; Piskeiy Teshuvos 336:12