In Jainism, karma is tied to the intention and the act of harming living beings. Plants are considered alive (jiva) too, so there is karmic potential when we injure or kill them. Cooking and eating plants can generate karma if harm is involved (for example, uprooting many plants, cutting branches, or causing unnecessary injury).

Key points:

• Ahimsa (non-violence) is central. Jains strive to minimize harm to all living beings, including plants.
• Many Jains practice a vegetarian diet to avoid killing animals, and many also avoid root vegetables (like onions, garlic, potatoes) because pulling them up kills the entire plant and may harm many microorganisms in the soil.
• The amount of karma depends on the level of harm and the intention behind the action. A mindful, non-harmful approach reduces karma, while careless harm increases it.
• Digambar and Shwetambar traditions both emphasize non-violence, though there are nuanced practices and interpretations regarding specific foods and agricultural methods.

If you’d like, I can summarize how this topic is explained in specific Jain scriptures or commentaries from Digambar and Shwetambar perspectives.