Save Tomato Seeds From Your Best Tomatoes

Gardening Articles | July 4, 2009

Save the seeds from your best tomatoes to grow great tomatoes next year.

Saving tomato seeds may be something to consider if you have a tomato that you think is great and want more of them next year. It's simple enough to save tomato seeds although the process is a bit on the messy side.

You want your seed to have the best genes possible so choose your finest tomatoes to get the seeds from.

The first step to saving tomato seeds is to speed up the fermentation process that happens naturally when tomatoes fall of the plant and start to rot.

The easiest way to get the seeds out of the tomato is to cut it in half across the equator.

Use a clean jar or bowl to scoop the pulp along with the seeds into.

Add just enough water to get the seeds to float in the liquid if they aren't already.

Now it's time to start the fermentation process. Place your mixture in a warm place like on top of the fridge, or in a window sill and leave it for two to four days. Covering your container with cheese cloth or plastic wrap with air holes poked in it will keep out the fruit flies and help keep the odor down.

You will know the fermentation process is complete when the seeds have sunk to the bottom and a layer of mold has formed on the top.

It's easier to separate the seeds from the mixture if you peel off the top layer of mold. Then add water and shake vigorously. The good seeds will sink to the bottom and the scum along with any dud seeds will float to the top.

Remove the scum and dud seeds by gently pouring them out. Continue adding water and pouring off the scum until all you have left are the good seeds sitting on the bottom.

Rinse the seeds off in a sieve and shake off the water.

Get your seeds completely dry by spreading them out on a plate

, or any hard surface and leaving them in a warm dry location for a day or two.

Storing your seeds in a brown envelope is better than storing them in plastic bags because plastic bags will retain any moisture that might be left on the seeds and cause them to rot.

Article Tags: Save Tomato Seeds, Save Tomato, Tomato Seeds, Seeds From, Fermentation Process

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Now that you know how to save tomato seeds you can select your best couple of tomatoes and try your hand at saving tomato seeds for next year when you want to grow tomatoes from seeds that you have grown and saved yourself.