Seed Saving Photos
Tomato seeds are surrounded by a gel which contains a germination inhibitor. I like to clean my tomato seeds by processing them with Oxiclean washing powder. Not only does it remove this germination inhibitor, and any bits of tomato that might be sticking to the seeds, but it can also remove certain soilborne diseases from the seeds so we aren't carrying a tomato disease from one year to the next.
The classic method of saving seeds is to leave them out in a cup or container for a few days until they start to ferment. They produce a strong smell and develop a "fungus mat". Because of the smell, some people let their seeds ferment outside. But if we have 100 degree temperatures, that can "cook" the seeds, making them not viable. Plus you never know how long it's going to take for the seeds to separate from the tomato solids. If you're going on a trip or out of town for the weekend, you might come back to dried out, useless seeds. Fermentation really got to be a hassle for me. And moldy tomato seeds grosses out my roomates!
Seeds should be saved from open pollinated varieties, which is really any tomato like an heirloom or market variety that is NOT a hybrid. Most of the tomatoes at the grocery store are hybrids (F1) and so you will not get the same tomato when you save seeds and grow them.
Tomatoes should be ripe or close to it. If possible, avoid saving seeds from deformed or "catfaced" tomatoes as they may have resulted from a fused blossom. Since a fused blossom is usually a much larger flower than the typical tomato blossom, there is a higher likelihood it attracted bees or other pollinators. The seeds you save might be cross-pollinated from another tomato and yield unusual results.
Note: Make sure your work surface, utensils, cups, strainer, and fingernails are free of any stray seeds before you begin and after each seed saving session.
Hint: It is helpful to get a paper plate ready by writing the variety name on it with a permanent marker before you begin, in case you walk away and forget what variety you saved seeds from. Don't write with a regular ink pen because moisture will cause the variety name to run.
1. Select ripe tomatoes of one variety to save seeds from.
2. Cut a hole or X on the bottom of each tomato and squeeze the juice and seeds into a measuring cup.
3. If the seeds and juice from the tomato is less than 1 cup, add water to make 1 cup. Add 1 tablespoon of Oxiclean washing powder for each cup of tomato seeds/pulp/water.
4. After 30 minutes, stir and pour seeds through a fine mesh strainer.
5. Rinse off seeds until they no longer feel "slippery".
6. Use a paper towel to dry off the bottom of the strainer.
7. Turn the strainer upside down and whack it onto a non-coated paper plate to transfer the seeds to the plate.
8. Spread seeds around so they are not all clumped together. This will let the seeds will dry properly. Cover loosely with a paper towel and set aside for approximately 1 week or until seeds are dry.
9. Scrape seeds into a paper envelope (such as Coin Envelopes from your local office supply store) and label with variety name, year, and your seed source.
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Date: 06/04/2008
Owner: Gallery Administrator
Size: 12 items
Views: 2291
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