Seeds are dark

DonnaMarieNJ · August 6, 2015

I'm fairly new at seed saving - maybe about 3 years now.

For the first time, my saved seeds are very, very dark brown. I've never seen this before. They are almost black. They do sink, however, but I'm afraid they may not be good.

What makes my saved seed so very dark? What am I doing? It's like one out of every five saved seed variety is dark. Do I keep them? Throw them out?

Thanks, again, in advance.

Donna

PaulF · August 6, 2015

If you used the fermentation method, you let them ferment a little too long. Germination will not be quite as good, but it should be good enough to get something to grow.

I have done this and usually it is when there are too many irons in the fire and I don't pay attention. Don't throw them out, you should be OK.

AlittleSalt · August 6, 2015

What Paul replied is also mentioned in Carolyn's book on page 35. Dark Brown to Black color means that fermentation has gone on too long, but the seeds are still viable. (I can't believe I remembered that, but I checked and am right).

They should be fine

I have a memory? LOL

bower · August 6, 2015

Hey DonnaMarie,

I had the same problem with my first batches of seed this year. It was cold, and I've been busy and forgot to count the days.. so you get discoloured seed.

I just wish the seed would do itself because I'm so way too busy right now, when they want to be saved.

Gardenboy · August 6, 2015

Your black tomato seeds should be fine. My grandfather used to grow an old fashioned beefsteak tomato that when after fermenting the seeds would be darker in color and they would still produce plants the next season. I still grow that same tomato every season. My grandfather's old fashioned beefsteak tomato. He brought them from KY in 1955 and I love them every season. U can try and germinate a few on a dampened paper towel just to check them out. I'm sure they are fine. Some of my Carbon and Black from Tula seeds are also dark seeds.

Cole_Robbie · August 6, 2015

Sometimes an overripe tomato will also spit out black seeds.

nancyruhl · August 6, 2015

I had that happen with a tomato I just processed. Are those seeds viable?

DonnaMarieNJ · August 8, 2015

I have been inundated with BER this year - the worst ever. Could it be that?

I've learned my lesson the first year I saved seed - I only ferment for a few days. The tomatoes could very well be overripe, and it also happened with cherry tomatoes that did not have BER. So, I really don't know.

And thank you for your responses, all of you!

Donna

stevenkh1 · August 8, 2015

Donna, I usually let mine ferment for 6 days and once in a while I'll get a dark one but it'll still germinate.

As for BER, I usually get a bag of lime pellets with 3:1 ratio of Calcium to Magnesium and at transplant time, I'll toss a small handful in with the dirt at transplant time. Each week I'll dissolve a tablespoon of that in with a 1/2 gallon of water (along with my fertilizer) and water/feed the tomato plant. That has virtually eradicated my blossom end rot in all my plants EXCEPT for 2 varieties this year: Livingston's The Stone and Livingston's Golden Queen. These plants are big, lush, and beautiful but the fruits are rotted.

August 6, 2015	#1
DonnaMarieNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northeast New Jersey Posts: 726	Seeds are dark I'm fairly new at seed saving - maybe about 3 years now. For the first time, my saved seeds are very, very dark brown. I've never seen this before. They are almost black. They do sink, however, but I'm afraid they may not be good. What makes my saved seed so very dark? What am I doing? It's like one out of every five saved seed variety is dark. Do I keep them? Throw them out? Thanks, again, in advance. Donna __________________ DonnaMarieNJ I pay the mortgage, but my cats own the house!

August 6, 2015	#2
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,284	If you used the fermentation method, you let them ferment a little too long. Germination will not be quite as good, but it should be good enough to get something to grow. I have done this and usually it is when there are too many irons in the fire and I don't pay attention. Don't throw them out, you should be OK. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

August 6, 2015	#5
Gardenboy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 771	tomato seeds Your black tomato seeds should be fine. My grandfather used to grow an old fashioned beefsteak tomato that when after fermenting the seeds would be darker in color and they would still produce plants the next season. I still grow that same tomato every season. My grandfather's old fashioned beefsteak tomato. He brought them from KY in 1955 and I love them every season. U can try and germinate a few on a dampened paper towel just to check them out. I'm sure they are fine. Some of my Carbon and Black from Tula seeds are also dark seeds.

August 8, 2015	#8
DonnaMarieNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northeast New Jersey Posts: 726	I have been inundated with BER this year - the worst ever. Could it be that? I've learned my lesson the first year I saved seed - I only ferment for a few days. The tomatoes could very well be overripe, and it also happened with cherry tomatoes that did not have BER. So, I really don't know. And thank you for your responses, all of you! Donna __________________ DonnaMarieNJ I pay the mortgage, but my cats own the house!

August 6, 2015	#3
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	What Paul replied is also mentioned in Carolyn's book on page 35. Dark Brown to Black color means that fermentation has gone on too long, but the seeds are still viable. (I can't believe I remembered that, but I checked and am right). They should be fine I have a memory? LOL

August 6, 2015	#4
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,793	Hey DonnaMarie, I had the same problem with my first batches of seed this year. It was cold, and I've been busy and forgot to count the days.. so you get discoloured seed. I just wish the seed would do itself because I'm so way too busy right now, when they want to be saved.

August 6, 2015	#6
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Sometimes an overripe tomato will also spit out black seeds.

August 6, 2015	#7
nancyruhl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Metro Detroit, Michigan Posts: 1,051	I had that happen with a tomato I just processed. Are those seeds viable?

August 8, 2015	#9
stevenkh1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 172	Donna, I usually let mine ferment for 6 days and once in a while I'll get a dark one but it'll still germinate. As for BER, I usually get a bag of lime pellets with 3:1 ratio of Calcium to Magnesium and at transplant time, I'll toss a small handful in with the dirt at transplant time. Each week I'll dissolve a tablespoon of that in with a 1/2 gallon of water (along with my fertilizer) and water/feed the tomato plant. That has virtually eradicated my blossom end rot in all my plants EXCEPT for 2 varieties this year: Livingston's The Stone and Livingston's Golden Queen. These plants are big, lush, and beautiful but the fruits are rotted.