planting a seed

Verb

plant a seed (third-person singular simple present plants a seed, present participle planting a seed, simple past and past participle planted a seed)

1. (idiomatic) To do something that will produce results or change in the future.
   • My only regrets are that T2 failed to get to grips with the new era of #indyref and Scottish national identity – for which Renton’s famous “shite” speech helped plant a tiny seed in 1996 – and that the second film didn’t give the women characters much to do, especially the excellent Kelly Macdonald...2017 January 19, Peter Bradshaw, “T2 Trainspotting review – choose a sequel that doesn't disappoint”, in the Guardian