diff --git a/src/item_factory.cpp b/src/item_factory.cpp
index 330e06294a70b..46001d688232f 100644
--- a/src/item_factory.cpp
+++ b/src/item_factory.cpp
@@ -1955,14 +1955,20 @@ void Item_factory::load_comestible( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &src
     }
 }
 
-void Item_factory::load( islot_seed &slot, const JsonObject &jo, const std::string & )
+void islot_seed::load( const JsonObject &jo )
 {
-    assign( jo, "grow", slot.grow, false, 1_days );
-    slot.fruit_div = jo.get_int( "fruit_div", 1 );
-    jo.read( "plant_name", slot.plant_name );
-    slot.fruit_id = jo.get_string( "fruit" );
-    slot.spawn_seeds = jo.get_bool( "seeds", true );
-    slot.byproducts = jo.get_string_array( "byproducts" );
+    assign( jo, "grow", grow, false, 1_days );
+    optional( jo, was_loaded, "fruit_div", fruit_div, 1 );
+    mandatory( jo, was_loaded, "plant_name", plant_name );
+    mandatory( jo, was_loaded, "fruit", fruit_id );
+    optional( jo, was_loaded, "seeds", spawn_seeds, true );
+    optional( jo, was_loaded, "byproducts", byproducts );
+}
+
+void islot_seed::deserialize( JsonIn &jsin )
+{
+    const JsonObject jo = jsin.get_object();
+    load( jo );
 }
 
 void Item_factory::load( islot_gunmod &slot, const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &src )
@@ -2442,7 +2448,7 @@ void Item_factory::load_basic_info( const JsonObject &jo, itype &def, const std:
     load_slot_optional( def.gun, jo, "gun_data", src );
     load_slot_optional( def.bionic, jo, "bionic_data", src );
     assign( jo, "ammo_data", def.ammo, src == "dda" );
-    load_slot_optional( def.seed, jo, "seed_data", src );
+    assign( jo, "seed_data", def.seed, src == "dda" );
     load_slot_optional( def.artifact, jo, "artifact_data", src );
     load_slot_optional( def.brewable, jo, "brewable", src );
     load_slot_optional( def.fuel, jo, "fuel", src );
diff --git a/src/item_factory.h b/src/item_factory.h
index 71799c09e1ac1..ad5c858e6fc5a 100644
--- a/src/item_factory.h
+++ b/src/item_factory.h
@@ -300,7 +300,6 @@ class Item_factory
         void load( islot_magazine &slot, const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &src );
         void load( islot_battery &slot, const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &src );
         void load( islot_bionic &slot, const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &src );
-        void load( islot_seed &slot, const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &src );
         void load( islot_artifact &slot, const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &src );
         void load( relic &slot, const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &src );
 
diff --git a/src/itype.h b/src/itype.h
index e509e49824620..0eebe18271791 100644
--- a/src/itype.h
+++ b/src/itype.h
@@ -723,7 +723,7 @@ struct islot_ammo : common_ranged_data {
      */
     cata::optional<bool> force_stat_display;
 
-    bool was_loaded;
+    bool was_loaded = false;
 
     void load( const JsonObject &jo );
     void deserialize( JsonIn &jsin );
@@ -745,6 +745,12 @@ struct islot_bionic {
 };
 
 struct islot_seed {
+    // Generic factory stuff
+    bool was_loaded = false;
+
+    void load( const JsonObject &jo );
+    void deserialize( JsonIn &jsin );
+
     /**
      * Time it takes for a seed to grow (based of off a season length of 91 days).
      */