How to Prepare Seeds From a Tomato

Tomato plants are extremely popular with home gardeners. They are easy to grow and maintain, and their fruit is versatile. Many gardeners love to present their home-grown tomatoes to friends and guests. Although tomato seedlings are readily available every spring in gardening outlets, you can grow your own tomatoes from seeds saved from the previous year. Follow a couple easy steps to collect and dry the seeds for future plantings.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Containers with lids
• Labels
• Pen
• Tomatoes
• Water
• Knife
• Coffee filters

Instructions

1. Pick your healthiest, disease-free tomatoes. Cut them in half at their equators.

2. Squeeze the tomatoes into several separate containers to extricate the seeds.

3. Label each container with the date and type of tomato to track your curing process.

4. Place the containers in a warm location (about 80 degrees Fahrenheit), out of direct sunlight. Put the lids on loosely to allow some air to circulate.

5. Leave the containers for up to three days. Stir them occasionally. Expect some of the seeds to rise to the top and dry out.

6. Take the containers outside and pour off the top liquid and scum.

7. Add water to each container, stir, and pour out the excess liquid again. This will clean out nonviable seeds, pulp, and additional tomato juice.

8. Pour more water into the containers and rinse again.

9. Invert the containers onto coffee filters to transfer the seeds to their drying medium.

10. Label the filters with your dates and tomato types to keep track of the seed varieties.

11. Leave the coffee filters in a warm, dry location with good circulation. Stir the seeds daily until they're completely dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Up to 50 percent of your seeds will sprout when you plant them.
• Tomato seeds can be stored for up to 10 years if they're dried correctly.
• If you leave seeds setting in water for too long, they'll sprout or rot.
• Never use paper towels for the drying process, since the seeds will stick to them.

References

• iVillage Garden Web: How to Save Tomato Seeds, Trudi D
• Victory Seed Company: Saving Tomato Seeds