Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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November 2, 2018 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Bozeman, Montana Zone 6b
Posts: 333
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Drying for Seeds
I have a mystery tomato I would like to dry and use next year. What are the tricks to be successful?
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November 2, 2018 | #2 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
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Quote:
And there are several ways to process seeds,like fermentation, oxidizing compounds, etc. Then dry them for storage for next year and there are also different ways of storing them. I hope others here will answer first since I'm kind of short of time right now, and perhaps later I can add more,fetch some links for you from Tville since all of this has been discussed many times here at Tville. Carolyn
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Carolyn |
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November 2, 2018 | #3 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
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So did what you got not match what you expected from the seeds you bought,but you liked it anyway. Were your original seeds from a trade or swap or a commercial place? Just trying to get a handle on this issue. Carolyn
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Carolyn |
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November 3, 2018 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Bozeman, Montana Zone 6b
Posts: 333
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Lost Label
My fault I miss labeled and do not know the orgins, but it was the most productive tomato I have ever grown, of course.
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November 3, 2018 | #5 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
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Quote:
Carolyn
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Carolyn |
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November 3, 2018 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Bozeman, Montana Zone 6b
Posts: 333
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No
I do not know which seeds they were that is why I want to try them next year.
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November 3, 2018 | #7 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
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Quote:
Carolyn
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Carolyn |
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November 3, 2018 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: El Lago, Texas
Posts: 1,100
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Mystery tomato plant
Do you know if your mystery tomato plant that you wish to save seeds from is a hybrid or an open-pollinated variety?
Donna |
November 3, 2018 | #9 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
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Quote:
Carolyn
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Carolyn |
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November 4, 2018 | #10 | |
Buffalo-Niagara Tomato TasteFest™ Co-Founder
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Niagara Frontier
Posts: 942
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Quote:
Pour off the scum. Add water to the cup rapidly though not to overfill it but just to get the seeds to swirl in the cup and pour off any other floating scum or tomato flesh particles or pieces. I do this 2 or 3 times. Then I get the seeds swirling around again and quickly pour everything into a small strainer. Double-check the container or cup for any seeds that didn't make it into the strainer. You may need to get them moving so they get dumped into the strainer. Here is where some folks differ on the next step. I run them under hot water, not over 125 degrees F. I also add a dab of toothpaste or anti-bacterial soap to the seeds in the strainer, and massage it in/on the seeds. If using toothpaste, try for one that is not a clear gel but rather a solid paste like the old days. (UltraBrite, etc.) Once well coated, I do a final rinse. THEN, I empty the seeds into my hand and firmly squeeze the seeds to remove the remaining water. Finally, I spread them out on a piece of coffee filter or a sheet of paper towel. I let them dry a bit, transfer to a new sheet of paper towel and then roll up the paper towel, fold the 2 ends into the center, fold again, then label them with a Sharpie marker. I let them continue to dry on the hamper a couple days before storing them. It's important that you really give them a good squeeze before putting them on the coffee filter papers or paper towels. During the temporary drying time on the paper towels, inspect the seeds to insure none have sprouted. Sometimes they sprout if you leave them fermenting longer than 3 or 4 days. Also, if doing many varieties, check the paper towels before each variety to insure you have no stray seeds from a previous variety. This is how I usually save seeds. Only differences are if the tomato is rotting, sometimes I put the whole tomato into the cup and try to remove the skin if possible, otherwise everything else is the same. On tiny currant-size tomatoes, I use an old-style potato masher in a clear quart tall container, mash them, then the skins usually float after a couple days, so they can be removed. I ended up buying 2 different clear plastic cups that use the same lid, I think one is 9oz and the other is 16oz. That handles at least a few tomatoes per cup or lots of cherry toms, and the lid already has a " + " cut for a straw, which lets any gas escape while keeping fruitflies out. Critters too. Hope this helps! |
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November 4, 2018 | #11 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,001
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Quote:
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"Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers |
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November 4, 2018 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Bozeman, Montana Zone 6b
Posts: 333
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Thanks guys just what I needed to know.
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November 4, 2018 | #13 |
Buffalo-Niagara Tomato TasteFest™ Co-Founder
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Niagara Frontier
Posts: 942
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That's a great method too Farmer Shawn, I think Carolyn uses the paper plate method too. I roll them in the paper towels because I can keep them in the PT's forever. I have also removed them from the PT and, using a #2 or #4 flat cone filter, I fold the rounded top down towards the center, enough that would close the top, then fold the "ears" inward, making a seed envelope about 3 inches tall & wide. I write the name & date on the flap.
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November 4, 2018 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 3,194
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Alternate ways:
I've had success just scraping seeds from the tomato and wiping them on a paper towel. Let that dry & plant them next year. A little more professional is to take the seeds, soak them in a little water plus Oxi-Clean detergent for about 45 minutes, then pour them into a fine mesh strainer. Rub them against the mesh (not too roughly), then rinse. Spread them on a plate, seeds not touching each other, to dry for a couple weeks. Nan |
November 4, 2018 | #15 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
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Quote:
Carolyn
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