8 March 2025 , written byBarbara Pleasant
When I was about to move my early tomatoes from the garden to the compost pile because they looked sad , I saw something crucial . I used up all the seeds from our favorite early tomato , the open - pollinate Stupice , this spring , so I had to get more and save them .
Here are some ripe fruits I picked first . Make certain they do n’t have any cracks or gob in them that bug could use to get inside and propagate disease . To keep my tomatoes from pollinating other type , I nibble fruit from plant that were not grow with other tomatoes . I also skipped over double fruits because their unusual flower structure makes them more likely to cross with other types . After being very measured to wash my female parent fruit well , I turn out each one down the middle to get to the biggest , fattest come . At this point , I opt to save tomato seeded player in all three of the best direction I know of : by fermenting them , drying them out , and entomb them in the garden .
Each Lycopersicon esculentum seed is insert in a gelatinlike sac . chemical substance in the colloidal gel cease the seeds from sprouting until they have a chance to stick themselves into fissure in the soil . In nature , this brilliant plan works neat , but the gel residue can be big for stored ejaculate because it can be a good place for diseases that are distribute by seeded player and stain . A mental process ring zymolysis cleans the germ before they are dry . But do n’t utilize the sometime method acting of letting tomato plant seeds ferment until a smelly scum forms on top of a mixing of tomato gel and water . Recently , several study have shown that tomato seeds burgeon forth well after being soaked for only one to two days and then rinse and dry out . zymosis prison term longer than three day hurt sprouting .
People who relieve tomato seeds will be felicitous to get a line this . I can confirm that after 24 hours of let a mixture of tomato gel and water sit at elbow room temperature , the gelatin follow off when the big seeds at the bottom of the container are gargle well in a strainer . Then I put the seeds on a paper photographic plate and dry them for about a calendar week , or until they find ironical and papery and break when I lift them up and pen up them in half . If I m drying more than one variety , I save the name on the plateful . Tomato germ usually stay live for 4 to 6 years , but sometimes they can live longer if they are hive away in a cool , ironic spot .
If tomato plant source are dried without being soak or fermented first , they may only last one to two years . However , that ’s enough time for gardener who just need to save seed from one class to the next . Large Lycopersicon esculentum seeds can be taken out of a colloidal gel mass with the tip of a knife and dry out on a paper plate . you may also arrange seeds on little part of coffee filter , paper towel , or toilet tissue paper to make seminal fluid discs or tapes . As a manner to start seeds , I like to foreshorten coffee filter into one shot that fit my tray and put two or three seeds on each one . These “ seeded player platter ” can be plant whole , or cut into smaller pieces .
Some gardeners just insistence tomato sow onto a report towel , spread them out a number , and rent the towel dry for a few workweek . Once the ejaculate - hold towel is dry , it can be folded up and put in a labeled envelope to be kept all wintertime .
tomato plant seedlings that grow on their own like weeds are validation that tomato seeds can be saved in the garden . I always plant tomatoes in places that have n’t had them for at least three age . I love where I ’ll put them next fountain by recent summer . When a spot in the future tomato row opens up , I use it to store seeds by burying cut tomatoes or tomato gel there and covering them with two inches ( 5 curium ) of stain and the same amount of biodegradable mulch . The seeds will not bourgeon when inhume deep , and many survive wintertime . In the bound , I take off the mulch , pat the place I marked with my hand , and cover it with a cloche to warm the soil . Tomato seedling seem like magic .
Saving seeds from your homegrown love apple is a with child way to preserve beloved heirloom varieties or keep grow plants adapt to your garden ’s unique conditions . Many seed saving guide recommend fermenting tomato seeds to clean off the gel coating and pioneer germination . However , this smelly , messy process is n’t required . With a few simple tools , save seeds without fermentation is easy .
Why Save Seeds?
Growing plants from your own saved semen offers many advantage :
Preserve heirloom and open - pollinate Lycopersicon esculentum perfectly adapted to your climate .
Avoid hybrids that do n’t produce on-key - to - character plants .
economize money by not buying raw seeds every year .
Feel gratification continuing to grow treasured tomato .
Share seeds with gardening Quaker and house .
Choose the Right Tomato
When saving tomato seeds , opt for a right or overripe heirloom tomato . Underripe fruits contain immature seeds that may not germinate well . Hybrid tomatoes wo n’t farm dead on target from seed .
Look for heirlooms like :
Avoid innovative hybrids and foodstuff fund tomatoes .
Collecting & Drying Seeds
fade tomatoes in half horizontally to get to the seed cavity . scoop up out gel and seeds onto a newspaper publisher towel or tag .
Label the potpourri and date . Air teetotal seed for 1 - 2 weeks , turn from time to time , until thoroughly ironic . Discard any moldy seed .
Storing Dried Seeds
transport ironic seeds to envelopes or jars . storage in a cool , wry , dark plaza . Use within 1 year for right sprouting rate .
Planting Saved Seeds
In outpouring , plant life seed 1⁄4 inch deeply in sterile seed begin mixing . Keep warm ( 70 - 80 ° F ) until germinate , then maturate on at 60 - 70 ° F . Harden off and transplant seedling to the garden after all danger of Robert Frost .
Tips for Success
Select ripe , undamaged heirloom tomato . Overripe is okay .
teetotal ejaculate thoroughly to prevent mold and spoilage .
recording label seeds to avert mental confusion .
storage seeds properly in a nerveless , dour place .
practice seminal fluid within a year for optimum germination .
When starting seeds , maintain proper temperature and humidness .
Why Fermentation is Unnecessary
While fermenting tomato semen can help remove the gel pocket , it is not need . Here ’s why it can be avoided :
innate drying also dispatch most gel from seed .
The paper towel method admit you to physically take remaining gel .
Fermenting seed introduces moisture , take a chance mold .
zymolysis want surplus sentence , supplying and mess .
As long as seed are thoroughly dry , the fermenting cognitive operation offers no real benefits and can in reality damage germ .
Troubleshooting Problems
Seeds drying too slowly?Move them to a warm spot with good airflow . you could also put them outside in the sun for part of the day .
Mold forming?Discard any moldy seeds and move the remainder to a drying agent locating . modeling means seeds were n’t dried quickly enough .
low-pitched germination rate?Old seeds suffer viability over fourth dimension . For best solvent , use seed within a yr and gather refreshed each season .
seedling sapless / poor growth?Optimal territory temperature and humidity is crucial when starting seeds . ensure conditions are idealistic .
Final Thoughts
With a precipitous knife , good tomato , composition towel , and morsel of longanimity , you may easily keep open love apple seeded player without messy fermentation or complicated steps . Just juiceless , store , and plant them next season for a bountiful crop of your favorite homegrown heirloom tomatoes .
Plants Related to this Article
If you need help designing your vegetable garden , try our Vegetable Garden Planner .
Tomato Seed Saving (Ultra Fast/No Fermenting!)
How to salvage tomato seed without ferment them ?
So , how can you write your tomato plant seeds without turn them ? There are three main ways of saving your tomato seeds without fermenting them : the paper towel method acting , the soil make unnecessary method acting , and the TPS and whitener save method acting . These are relatively simple to do ; just be sure to strip the source first to forefend any pathogens spreading to the seeds .
Can one freeze down tomato plant ?
Yes . Lycopersicon esculentum may be frozen raw or cooked , whole , chopped , chopped , or puréed . They do not need to be blanch before freeze . quick-frozen tomatoes will retain their flavor for 12 months .
Can You Dry tomato seminal fluid without fermenting ?
If you plan to dry out tomato seed without fermenting , test rubbing the source on an abrasive open ( like a fine - interlocking strainer or composition towel ) . This can facilitate break up the seed ’s gel sac and clean up the seeds for storage . agitation may vocalise intimidating , but the physical process is fantastically simple . It just require a few days of wait ! 4 .
Do tomato seeds demand to be turn ?
sour the Lycopersicon esculentum seminal fluid is n’t the only direction to preserve them . you may omit the fermentation steps and simply light and dry out the seeds . If you dry out your tomato come without turn them , they will only last 1 to 2 yr . This is a good cum - carry through choice for those who be after to use their come quickly .
