How to save your own tomato seeds

I think it's a great idea to save your own tomato seeds. I was keen on saving the seeds from the heirloom varieties I had grown on the allotment. I gave it a try and it was easy. Here's how it's done:

• You will need a glass jar, some cling film (plastic wrap), a few tablespoons of water and a plate lined with kitchen towel

• Choose a tomato from the healthiest tomato plant

• Cut the tomato in half

• Scoop or squeeze out the gelatinous inner into the glass jar

• Add a few tablespoons of water into the jar

• Cover the top of the jar with cling film (plastic wrap)

• Pierce the cling film (plastic wrap) to allow a little air into the jar to help with fermentation

• Place the jar onto a sunny windowsill or ontop of the refrigerator to keep the contents warm

• Leave for about three days, making sure you give the contents a stir daily

• You will notice the top of the water looking scummy, this is okay as it means fermentation is taking place and the gel is separating from the seeds

• After three days remove the scummy top off the water with a spoon

• Then pour the remaining contents into a fine sieve and rinse thoroughly until you are left with clean seeds

• Cover a plate with a piece of kitchen towel and place the seeds ontop

• Make sure the seeds are not clumped up and are laying separately from each other

• Leave the seeds to dry, this can take up to a week

• Only when you are sure the seeds are thoroughly dry can you store them

• A way to tell if the seeds are bone dry is to flick them gently across the plate. If they are bone dry they will move quickly and easily and will not stick to each other

• If you store the seeds when they are still damp they will get ruined by mildew

• So once they are bone dry store them in a paper envelope that has been labelled with the variety of tomato and date of storage

I have managed to get the seeds from my Black Russian and Tigerella tomatoes using this method. Good luck with giving it a go yourselves :)

#tomatoes #seeds