The Spruce / Hilary Allison
Learn how to save tomato seeds from tomatoes you’ve already grown.
the trick is to ferment and dry the seeds correctly.
Learn instructions on how to save tomato seeds so they are ready for planting.
The Spruce / Hilary Allison
The first step is to choose your best-looking tomatoes.
You want to save seed from the finest fruit so that next year’s plant will have good genes.
Only save seeds fromtrue-to-seed, open-pollinated(OP) tomatoes, which include all theheirloom varieties.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
The sack contains growth inhibitors to prevent the seeds from sprouting inside the tomato.
In nature, tomatoes fall off plants, rot, and ferment to release their seeds.
The following instructions replicate and speed up the process to preserve your seeds.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Scoop out all of the flesh with the seeds from both halves into a bowl.
Start Fermentation
Add a cup of warm water to the tomato pulp.
Put the mixture in a sterilized glass canning jar or a mixing bowl to begin the fermentation process.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Check on the Fermentation
Check the fermentation process daily.
Look for a layer of mold on top of the seeds and pulp.
Stop the fermentation process at this point or the seeds may begin germinating too early.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Separate the Seeds
Remove and dispose of the mold covering by lifting it out of the jar.
Alternatively, add water to the jar or bowl and stir or shake vigorously.
The good seeds will settle to the bottom of the container.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Remove any pulp bits and mold so that only clean seeds remain.
Dry the Seeds
Spread the seeds onto either a paper plate or glass dish to dry.
Don’t use paper or paper towels or the seeds will stick to them and be difficult to remove.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Set the seeds in a warm, dry spot and let them dry completely.
Shake them on the plate daily so they dry evenly without clumping.
Do not take a stab at speed up the process with heat which may destroy the seeds.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Store the Seeds
Use an airtight container to store the thoroughly dried seeds.
Place the container in a cool, dry place.
you could also put seeds in an envelope and place them in a labeled canning jar with the date.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Tomato seeds dried and stored correctly are good for up to five years.
Tip
It’s beneficial togrow heirloom tomato varietiesand save their seeds.
Many of these flavorful, colorful vintage types of tomatoes are at risk of becoming rare.
When saving tomato seeds, the most important step is making sure they are thoroughly dried before storing.
Dry them in a warm spot with good ventilation before cleaning and placing in an airtight container.
Unless you are sowing them immediately, it is usually best to dry out tomato seeds before planting.
