seeds from 'mummies'

piegirl · March 13, 2010

Forgot to save seed from one of favs last fall/summer. While outside I saw two mummies and brought them inside - filled with seeds. I don't recall their ripeness stage but if it was red or turning, I picked them, along with many greenies. Entirely possible they were too small. Any chance the seeds are viable??? Piegirl

mjc · March 13, 2010

Plant them and find out...

Those missed tomatoes are often what are responsible for the volunteers that come up that you can't identify.

Wi-sunflower · March 14, 2010

Some years Hubby and I will go out in Feb when we have a bit of a winter thaw and pick up the "mummies" for varieties we didn't have a chance to get earlier. We've done that several years now.

After I process the seeds and dry them, there WILL be good seeds in there, but the germination rate will usually vary wildly from a best of about 70% down to 20%. But that's still better than not getting ANY seeds from a variety you need. I don't trade or sell THOSE seeds, but I use them myself to increase my good seeds.

As far as ripeness, it's hard to tell. But if the skin has color, it was probably ripe. If it's white, may not have been but also may be a variety that has a clear skin.

Go for it.

Carol

March 13, 2010	#1
piegirl Tomatovillian™ Honoree Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 791	seeds from 'mummies' Forgot to save seed from one of favs last fall/summer. While outside I saw two mummies and brought them inside - filled with seeds. I don't recall their ripeness stage but if it was red or turning, I picked them, along with many greenies. Entirely possible they were too small. Any chance the seeds are viable??? Piegirl

March 14, 2010	#3
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Some years Hubby and I will go out in Feb when we have a bit of a winter thaw and pick up the "mummies" for varieties we didn't have a chance to get earlier. We've done that several years now. After I process the seeds and dry them, there WILL be good seeds in there, but the germination rate will usually vary wildly from a best of about 70% down to 20%. But that's still better than not getting ANY seeds from a variety you need. I don't trade or sell THOSE seeds, but I use them myself to increase my good seeds. As far as ripeness, it's hard to tell. But if the skin has color, it was probably ripe. If it's white, may not have been but also may be a variety that has a clear skin. Go for it. Carol Last edited by Wi-sunflower; March 14, 2010 at 09:58 AM. Reason: added thought

March 13, 2010	#2
mjc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: WV Posts: 603	Plant them and find out... Those missed tomatoes are often what are responsible for the volunteers that come up that you can't identify.