Easy Tomato Seed Saving Method

Gerald51 · January 10, 2009

I have been saving seed this way, BEFORE I read how it should be done and I've gotten over a 95% germination rate.

After slicing and eating a tomato, (if it taste really good) I reach for a paper towel and lay it flat on the cutting board, the seed on the cutting board adhere to it, I fold the paper towel and write the name of the tomato seed and the date with a ink pen. I then place it on top of the refrigerator to dry for a week or so before putting it into a freezer bag and throwing it into the freezer.

When it's time to plant, I tear off a small piece of paper towel with a seed attached to it and poke it into the soil, it spouts and grows.

I know that I'm going to have to change my way, before I start trading seeds with people.

**Mischka** · January 10, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerald51

I know that I'm going to have to change my way, before I start trading seeds with people.

...or patent your process and sell it to the folks that make Bounty, Viva, Brawny, etc!

Gerald51 · January 10, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mischka

...or patent your process and sell it to the folks that make Bounty, Viva, Brawny, etc!

Hey, a paper towel especially designed to mop up tomato seed would be a easier sale than a container to rot and mold tomato seeds in would be.

Plantersville · January 10, 2009

I like that method......I think I'll do that this year with MY seeds I will save for ME.....thanks for the info!!

**feldon30** · January 10, 2009

As long as you don't have any seedborne fungal diseases, it's great.

If you are interested in other seed saving techniques that only take approx 30 minutes.

Gerald51 · January 10, 2009

Has there been any study on "seed-borne fungal diseases" as it relates to different seed saving methods?

I'll probaby switch to another method, just because it's neater and I want to start doing some seed swapping.

I'm still trying to figure what could possible be in a "non-organically" grown seed that could possible hurt anyone.

Gerald

Wi-sunflower · January 10, 2009

It's not something that would hurt YOU. But disease can travel on the seed and transmit to the seedlings and possibly ruin the fruit, if you got any fruit at all.

Bacterial spot and speck are something that is seed borne and when bad will defoliate the plant. When just so-so the fruit will just have lots of spots and specks that look like scabs. Not to good for fresh eating.

Personally I don't do fermenting either. But I do do a bleach/water soak as I'm cleaning the seeds. That seems to have been sufficient for my seeds.

Gerald51 · January 10, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wi-sunflower

It's not something that would hurt YOU. But disease can travel on the seed and transmit to the seedlings and possibly ruin the fruit, if you got any fruit at all.

Bacterial spot and speck are something that is seed borne and when bad will defoliate the plant. When just so-so the fruit will just have lots of spots and specks that look like scabs. Not to good for fresh eating.

Personally I don't do fermenting either. But I do do a bleach/water soak as I'm cleaning the seeds. That seems to have been sufficient for my seeds.

I didn't know that seed could transmit all that bad stuff. Like my dad told me, when you're green you're growing, when you're ripe you're dead. I'm glad that I'm still green and learned something today. Thanks!

Gerald

robin303 · January 14, 2009

You can't beat feldons way. Winner every time.

Gerald51 · January 14, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by feldon30

As long as you don't have any seedborne fungal diseases, it's great.

If you are interested in other seed saving techniques that only take approx 30 minutes.

Is that the same Oxiclean that is used to clean laundry?

**feldon30** · January 15, 2009

Yes, the washing powder being hawked by The obnoxious Billy Mays.

Wi-sunflower · January 15, 2009

I posted my method in post 45 of this thread http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...454#post116454

Personally I would think Bleach is a lot cheaper than Oxi and easier to handle than TSP.

Not quite as fast as your method, but you can process a whole LOT of seed in a fairly short time. Of course, you don't get to eat the tomatoes too. But the tomatoes I use you wouldn't want to eat -- usually well over ripe, split, cracked and partially rotten.

Gerald51 · January 15, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by feldon30

Yes, the washing powder being hawked by The obnoxious Billy Mays.

Oxiclean will burn the fire out of you, if you're not careful.

I wonder if Billy Mays' Oxiclean could clean all the bad off of non-organically grown seed also?

Penny · January 15, 2009

Great idea for the paper towel and just add it directly to the soil.

January 10, 2009	#1
Gerald51 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Germantown, TN Posts: 103	Easy Tomato Seed Saving Method I have been saving seed this way, BEFORE I read how it should be done and I've gotten over a 95% germination rate. After slicing and eating a tomato, (if it taste really good) I reach for a paper towel and lay it flat on the cutting board, the seed on the cutting board adhere to it, I fold the paper towel and write the name of the tomato seed and the date with a ink pen. I then place it on top of the refrigerator to dry for a week or so before putting it into a freezer bag and throwing it into the freezer. When it's time to plant, I tear off a small piece of paper towel with a seed attached to it and poke it into the soil, it spouts and grows. I know that I'm going to have to change my way, before I start trading seeds with people.

January 10, 2009	#4
Plantersville Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Plantersville, Texas Zone 8 Posts: 137	I like that method......I think I'll do that this year with MY seeds I will save for ME.....thanks for the info!! __________________ Chuck I love to eat, sleep and fish........not necessarily in that order!

January 10, 2009	#5
feldon30 SETTFest™ Coordinator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Between gardens Posts: 4,761	As long as you don't have any seedborne fungal diseases, it's great. If you are interested in other seed saving techniques that only take approx 30 minutes. __________________ Visit my website for Tomato growing advice for Central and S.E. Texas. Check out my Tomato Photos

January 15, 2009	#11
feldon30 SETTFest™ Coordinator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Between gardens Posts: 4,761	Yes, the washing powder being hawked by The obnoxious Billy Mays. __________________ Visit my website for Tomato growing advice for Central and S.E. Texas. Check out my Tomato Photos

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January 10, 2009	#7
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,946	It's not something that would hurt YOU. But disease can travel on the seed and transmit to the seedlings and possibly ruin the fruit, if you got any fruit at all. Bacterial spot and speck are something that is seed borne and when bad will defoliate the plant. When just so-so the fruit will just have lots of spots and specks that look like scabs. Not to good for fresh eating. Personally I don't do fermenting either. But I do do a bleach/water soak as I'm cleaning the seeds. That seems to have been sufficient for my seeds.

January 14, 2009	#9
robin303 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Austin, TX Zone 8b Posts: 531	You can't beat feldons way. Winner every time.

January 15, 2009	#14
Penny Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 796	Great idea for the paper towel and just add it directly to the soil.