How to Dry Heirloom Tomato Seeds

Saving seeds from favorite heirloom tomatoes growing in your garden allows you to replant the same tomato next year. Many heirloom tomatoes are not available commercially, and are handed down through the generations and to neighbors and friends from seed savers.

Things You'll Need

• Ripe heirloom tomato
• Sharp knife
• Clean glass bowl
• Water
• Tray or cookie sheet
• Envelope
• Pen

Instructions

1. Cut the tomato in half from top to bottom. Squeeze the seeds and pulp into a clean glass bowl.

2. Add 1/2 cup of water to the tomato seeds and pulp. Set aside in a room temperature location for two to four days. Stir occasionally. The mixture may ferment, but that's OK.

3. Pour off the pulp and water after four days. Any seeds that have floated to the top are not viable, so you can pour them off, too. The usable seeds will be at the bottom of the bowl. You can add more water to the mixture, if necessary, to make it easier to separate the seeds from the pulp.

4. Spread the wet seeds out on a tray or cookie sheet and allow them to dry out in a warm, dry area away from direct sunlight. This can take several days.

5. Mark the envelope with the name of the heirloom tomato seed, and slide the dried seeds from the tray or cookie sheet into the envelope and seal it. Store the envelope in a cool, dry place.

Tips & Warnings

• Your tomato seeds will grow up to four years after you save them if they are stored properly.

• Make certain the seeds dry thoroughly before you store them. Any remaining moisture in any seed can cause the whole envelope full of seeds to mildew.

References

• Heirloom Vegetables
• Aunt Martha's Garden