SAVING TOMATO SEEDS
Pollination
Saving seed that is true to its parent
What tomatoes to use
Fermenting seed
Storage
- Heirloom tomatoes are pollinated by insects, birds, wind, and other natural means (open-pollinated).
- All tomatoes can also be pollinated by its own pollen (self-pollination). Wind self-pollination will produce fruit and seed true to the parent plant.
- Both bees and man can pollinate one tomato variety with pollen from another tomato variety. This process creates a hybrid. When hybrid seeds are planted and grown, the plant has characteristics of both parent varieties.
- Seeds saved from a hybrid plant can cause uncertain results which could be pleasing, but also might be undesirable.
Saving seed that is true to its parent
- To save “true” seed from an heirloom tomato, cover new blossom clusters with a sheer fabric before they open to prevent insects from cross-pollinating. Remove bags once fruit has formed so the fruit can expand without restriction. Mark the cluster loosely with yarn/cord as a reminder.
What tomatoes to use
- Select the characteristics that you want in your tomato: size, taste, acid content, color, disease resistance, tolerance to heat and/or humidity...
- Save seed from multiple, prized tomatoes when they are at their prime for eating.
Fermenting seed
- Cut tomato in half and scoop/squeeze seeds out over a jar. Note the amount of seed/juice and add 1/2 that amount of water to the seed mixture. Loosely cover. Label.
- As soon as the bubbling and/or mold have been evident for a day or two, scoop off the mold, stir, and let settle. Healthy seed will sink and dead seed and pulp will float. Scoop out dead seed/pulp.
- Pour remaining seed into a colander and rinse seeds while gently rubbing seeds across the colander screen. Spread seed out on parchment paper to dry in a cool, shady place for a few days. Label.
Storage
- Once the seeds are thoroughly dry, scrape them off the cloth with an old credit card.
- The rule for seed storage is 100. Temperature plus humidity needs to total 100. If you store them in a glass jar in the refrigerator with a temperature of 40° F, the humidity can be up to 60% in the jar. However, if you store them in the house and air conditioning set at 80° F, the humidity of the seeds must be 20%.
- Place seeds in a small, thick plastic zip bag with a desiccant (moisture remover). Place the zip bag(s) in a glass jar (not plastic) and seal. Store the jar in the coolest place available that is not freezing. When ready to use, allow seeds to return to room temperature before opening the jar otherwise moisture from condensation could be added to the seed.
- Tomato seeds can remain viable (able to germinate) for up to four (4) years if stored under these conditions.
