How to Save Heirloom Tomato Seeds

Saving heirloom tomato seeds is very easy and uses the same process as saving hybrid tomato seeds. Saving heirloom tomato seeds is a convenient way to harness the goodness of that one tomato that you put in your mouth, and it just exploded with flavor!

Hi It's John from growing-tomatoes-made-easy.com again!

Save that last slice of tomato and preserve those seeds to grow a bounty of that tomato all for yourself!

Normally when you save seeds from other plants, you simply let the plant dry and collect the seeds.

Not so with the tomato!

Tomato seeds are encapsulated by a moist and sticky, gelatin-like casing that contains germination inhibitors. These germination inhibitors prevent the seed from sprouting inside the tomato.

In nature, when the fruit falls off the vine, it hits the ground, rots and ferments.

This is the way nature gets rid of the germination inhibitors to release the seed to sprout another plant.

We can mimic the same process and save our favorite tomato seeds for future plantings, very easily!


Would you like to learn how to save heirloom tomato seeds?

Yes? Ok lets get started.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fresh Tomato
• Knife
• Spoon
• Bowl
• Plastic wrap
• Sieve

1. 
    
   Seeds in the Bowl

   Start with picking out your most recent favorite tomato.
   
   Slice it in half and spoon out the seeds.
   
   Place your seeds in a bowl and add a few tablespoons of water and mix it around.

2. 
    
   Tomato Seeds in Bowl covered in Plastic Wrap

   Cover your bowl with plastic wrap, and poke a few holes in the top to let the air circulate, this helps get the fermentation process going.

3. 
    
   Fermenting Seeds

   Place your bowl in a warm spot; I use the top of my refrigerator, as it's out of the way. I also like the top of the fridge because my wife can't mistake my fermenting seeds for bad leftovers & throw them out!
   
   It takes about 4 to 5 days for the fermentation to eat away the seed casings. Everyday, peel back the plastic wrap and stir the mixture of seeds and water. Reseal the bowl and stick it back above the fridge!
   
   The liquid will begin to darken and start to emit an odor.

4. A filmy layer on the surface of liquid, where the impurities will rise to, will form. The fermentation process, in addition to removing the gel casing, will help kill any possible diseases the former tomato may have been harboring.
   
   
   When the seeds are nice and fermented, spoon out the film and dump the seeds in a fine kitchen sieve.

5. 
    
   Tomato Seeds Getting Washed

   Rinse the seeds well under your sink with cool water. I use my finger to move the seeds around inside the sieve to make sure I'm cleaning off the seeds really well.

6. 
    
   Tomato Seeds Drying on Parchment

   When done, empty the seeds onto a paper plate, coffee filter, parchment paper, wax paper, you get the idea. Spread them out so there is space in between them.

7. Put the seeds in a safe place for a few days of drying. Mix up & flip the seeds once a day so all sides are exposed to air to aid in the drying process.
   
   After a week of drying, test to see if the tomato seeds are ready for storage. Test the seeds by putting them on a new paper plate and see if they slide around freely, if they do, great they are dry!
   
   Store them how you like, paper or plastic. The main thing to be concerned with when storing is keeping them dry. If your seeds get even exposed to the slightest bit of moisture, you risk mildew and rot ruining your seeds.
   
   Label you seeds if you know the variety and enjoy planting & sharing!

Resources

• All About Growing Tomatoes, Learn, Grow & Share at Growing Tomatoes Made Easy!

[woojie]

on 4/6/2009 Good article. Fun to read.Helpful.

[kahanahou]

on 1/13/2009 Last night I sliced a store bought Green House Tomatoe and found that the seeds had sprouted (about 1/4" long) inside the tomatoe. This morning the seeds, still inside the tomatoe, have doubled in size and are turning green. Will planting these sprouted seeds in dirt produce tomatoes? Jeff ([e-mail])

[SunflowerOcity]

on 10/19/2007 Good stuff John! See also: http://www.ehow.com/how_2072296_save-seeds-easy-way.html