How to Store Tomato Seeds
Each tomato fruit contains dozens of tomato seeds. Removing these seeds from the tomato means that you can grow new plants for homegrown tomatoes. However, it's important to store the seeds properly until you're ready to use them. Seeds that aren't properly stored can become diseased or start growing prematurely. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Large plate
- Wax paper
- Large Ziploc freezer bag
- Small Ziploc freezer bags
- Dried milk powder
Instructions
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You must dry out the seeds completely before storing them. Take the wax paper and place a single layer on top of the large plate. If you have a large number of seeds, you may want to use two plates.
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Place the seeds on the wax paper, making sure they are spread out. Place the plate on a windowsill or other location where it's warm and dry. Sunlight can help speed up the drying process. Wait up to a week for the seeds to dry, moving and flipping the seeds every few days.
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Place the dried seeds inside the smaller Ziploc bag. If you have seeds from multiple types of tomato plants, place only one type in each bag. Add a small amount of dried milk powder into each bag before sealing them. The powder will help absorb any moisture.
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Put each smaller bag into the large freezer bag. You may add dry milk powder into this bag as well. Seal the bag and place it inside your freezer. If you plan on using the seeds within a two or three weeks, place the bag in the refrigerator instead.
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Tips & Warnings
The website My Gardening Tips claims that seeds can be stored for up to 10 years in a freezer.
Make sure that both bags are sealed tightly. Any moisture at all inside the bag can cause contamination, disease, or premature growth.
