Content
Is it possible to collect tomato seeds yourself and why do they grow into a different variety?
04.06.2023 02:30
The best seeds are those you collect yourself. This is an easy and effective way to save seeds from specific plants you like and use them for planting next season.
They have almost 100% germination, and there is no risk of introducing a new disease to the site.
This article tells you how to collect tomato seeds yourself.
But first, a small digression
Tomatoes do not cross-pollinate with each other, so seeds can be collected even if several varieties of plants are nearby.
But there are situations when completely different tomatoes sprout. This happens if the seeds are collected not from a regular variety, but from a hybrid. Hybrids are marked F1 on the seed package. These are varieties that were obtained by crossing two different varieties, so in the future they can grow into a "mother", "father", or even "grandmother" and "grandfather".
Therefore, if you don’t like surprises, you should only collect seeds from classic varieties.
Procedure
The collection process is not complicated, you just need to follow the recommendations below step by step.
Step 1: Select a ripe fruit
Select the ripest fruits that have a bright color, characteristic shape and size for the variety. The fruits should be healthy, without damage or rot.
Step 2: Remove the seeds from the fruit
Extracting seeds from a tomato fruit involves several steps. First, cut the fruit in half and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Once the seeds are extracted, place them in a glass container and fill with water.
Step 3: Separate the seeds from the pulp
To separate the seeds from the pulp, add a small amount of water to the container and leave it in a warm place for 2-3 days so that the liquid ferments well.
Step 4: Rinse
Drain the fermented liquid, pour water into a glass container with seeds and stir several times to remove the pulp around the seeds. Then drain the water. Repeat this procedure several times until the seeds are completely clean.
Step 5: Dry
After the seeds have been washed, dry them. To do this, lay them out on a paper towel and leave them for a few days until they are completely dry. You can dry them in the sun or in a warm room, but not on a hot surface.
Once the seeds are completely dry, they can be stored in a paper bag or matchbox. Be sure to label the bag so you know what variety of tomato it is. Also write down the year of collection.
