How to Save Tomato Seeds to Sprout Longer Later

How to store tomato seeds

If you’ve planted tomato plants this year, you know they don’t last forever. There comes a time when the plant stops giving and eventually dies. But if those tomatoes turned out great and you still have some, how about showing you how to save tomato seeds for spring planting?

The truth is that it is very easy to do it, but when storing them, you can make a mistake that will prevent them from sprouting later. Therefore, we are going to tell you step by step about everything you need to consider.

Contents

Choosing Tomato Seeds

tomato plants with hanging tomatoes

First of all, if you have eaten tomatoes, you may have noticed that they are richer than what you can buy in stores, especially if you take good care of it. The taste, the consistency, the aroma… all of this, being natural, is noticeable afterwards. However, each tomato plant is different, not only because it can be of different varieties, but also because it gives better or worse tomatoes.

For it, the first step to take is to choose the best tomatoes, those that come from the plant that gave them the best. This way you will get it to repeat when you plant them and they are as good as these.

Let the tomato ripen

Many prefer to remove the seeds regardless of the state the tomato is in. But we recommend that you do it when the tomato is fully ripe. Only you will need a tomato as it will contain more than enough seeds.

At maturity, the seeds will have been well nourished by the tomato. Obviously, it should not be rotten, but the tomato should have a soft pulp.

remove the seeds

To remove the seeds you need a spoon and also a not very big container to deposit them (it can be a glass, the glass of a clean yogurt…). Once you have everything, it’s time to start.

The first thing to do is cut the tomato in half. With the spoon, take out the part where the seeds are (don’t worry if you also get the frozen part, it’s actually much better do it like this).

These tablespoons should be dropped into the glass or glass container (do not use plastic as it can create mold). Then add a little water but at room temperature.

In this regard, we recommend that do not use tap waterbut mineral water because that way you prevent chlorine and lime from affecting it.

The goal is for the water to cover the seeds with their gelatin.

You will have to Leave the seeds there for about 48 hours. You will know it is ready when you see a film forming on the surface as if it were mold. At this time, you need to remove them from the water and wash them. To make it easier for you, use a strainer, pour the liquid from the glass and the seeds and some gelatin will remain. Now, with the water tap, wash them well.

Select seeds that are good

No, we are not going to let you see now, one by one, if the seed is good. It’s easier than you think.

Take another glass and fill it with water (if it can be better mineral). Now add the seeds and wait a few minutes. Do the seeds float? Those outside, because they will not germinate. Keep only those that have sunk.

With these you should drain them again and give them another gentle wash. And then transfer them to a towel so that it absorbs the water. Try to distribute them well so that they can dry 100%. It can take several days, don’t be impatient because the important thing is that they are dry.

How to store tomato seeds

green tomato

And now yes, the seeds of this delicious tomato are ready to be stored or planted. If it’s the first thing you’re going to do, you have to be sure to mark the date you took themespecially if you have more, because normally you have to plant them a year later at the most (so that they have the strength and vitality, because in reality they will last up to 4 years).

When storing tomato seeds, you should keep in mind that they will not be used for several months, and to keep them in the best condition, you should not only ensure that they are in a good container, but also that the place where they are stored will have an influence.

We start with the container to use for the seeds. Once you make sure they are completely dry, you need to place them in an area that you really know will be protected.

And in this respect you have several options: the first, and that many use, is a hermetic bag Of course, be sure to remove the air well; the second option is a paper bag.

In either case, the seeds will be well protected and you will have no problem holding them.

Now, where to store them? Some think they should be in the fridge, but the truth is, they don’t. enough that put them somewhere at room temperature. However, we recommend that you better not give them the lightso they don’t start the sprouting process (although they will need water, as they will have some buildup inside, they might try it).

When spring comes, you can collect these seeds and plant them (You know, leave them in water for about 24 hours to start the germination process, then plant them in the ground). The good thing about taking tomato seeds that you know are good is that the plant you get from those seeds will be similar and you will enjoy the same flavor and aroma as the year before.

tomato seed germination

In addition, all tomato varieties follow the same process to remove the seeds, so if you get some different tomatoes, you could get seeds from all of them and thus have a little garden to save on buying them (and also they will taste much better than the ones in the stores).

Do you have questions about how to store tomato seeds? If so, you can contact us without any problem and we will try to help you. Let’s make a garden at home!

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