How To Grow Tomatoes


How To Save Tomato Seeds

You can save tomato seeds from those great looking tomatoes you grew this year and use them to start your new tomatoes next year. Saving tomatoes seeds is a little messy, but the process is simple enough.

Set aside your best one or two tomatoes to get your seed from. They will have the best genes and will produce the best fruit.

Saving tomato seeds is different than saving seeds from most plants

Tomato seeds are prevented from sprouting in the tomato by a gel like sack that contains growth inhibitors. In nature tomatoes fall off the plant, rot and ferment.

The first step to saving tomato seeds is to speed up the fermentation process.

Getting the pulp and seeds out of the tomato

Slicing the tomato in half with the stem on one end and the blossom side on the other is the easiest way to get the seeds out of the tomato.

Use a spoon or your fingers to scoop out the put and seeds into a clean jar or bowl.

Starting the fermentation process

Add just enough water so that the seeds are floating in liquid.

Place the seeds in a warm place such as a window sill, or on top of the fridge for two to four days to allow the fermentation process to take place.

The smell can be quite strong so you may want to find a place that's out of the way.

Putting cheese cloth or plastic wrap with some wholes over it will keep out the fruit flies and help keep the odor down.

The process is done when you see a layer of mold on top and the good seeds have sunk to the bottom. Don't leave the seeds past this point or they may start to germinate.

Extracting the tomato seeds from the mixture

Peeling off the top layer of mold will make it easier for you to separate the seeds from the mixture. Add water and shake vigorously. the scum along with any dud seeds will float to the top, and the good seeds will sink to the bottom.

Gently pour the scum and bad seeds off the top, and then add more water and shake again. Continue to repeat this process until all the scum is removed, and you are left with only your good seeds.

Remove any remaining pulp bits by putting your seeds in a sieve and rinsing off under cold water.

Drying and saving your tomato seeds

Spread out your seeds on a hard surface such as a baking sheet or plate and leave them in a warm dry spot until they have dried completely.

Put your seeds in brown envelope, label it, and store your seeds in a cool dry place. Some people like to use plastic bags, but if there is any moisture left in the seeds you run the risk of causing your seeds to rot.

If you save tomato seeds from your best tomatoes you will have high quality seeds to start tomatoes from seed next year. It's a simple enough process so why not try your hand at saving tomato seeds?

Saving tomato seeds and more covered here



©2009