How to Save Tomato Seeds — Do you save your seeds from year to year? There are definitely lots of advantages to saving them. One, it’s cost effective {read: free}. Two, it allows you to save seeds that are already adapted to your individual climate, soil conditions, etc. And three, it’s the ultimate in self-reliance. Oh, and four, it’s pretty simple, so why not?
To save your tomato seeds, first consider your variety.
Hybrids don’t always save very well, because they don’t come up true from year to year. Heirlooms are the perfect choice for saving each year, because they are incredibly predictable.
Next, cut the tomatoes in half and squeeze out the pulp into a mason jar. Add a couple of tablespoons of water.
Cover the mason jar with cheese cloth or a coffee filter and leave it to sit for a couple of days. A layer of scum/mold will start to form on the top of the jar after 4-5 days {it’s the fermenting process, nothing to be alarmed over}.
Skim this layer off and then pour the mixture into a bowl. Pour a little cold water over the mixture in the bowl and allow it to sit for a minute or two. Some seeds will float to the top—skim these ones out, they are duds.
Now pour the rest of the mixture into a fine wire strainer or a sieve. Run the mixture under cold water until no pulp remains. Now you should have viable, clean tomato seeds ready for drying.
To dry them, lay them out flat on a paper towel or newspaper. Allow them to dry for 10 days or so, stirring them around every couple of days to ensure consistent drying throughout the seed. Now you can put them in an labeled envelope and pat yourself on the back for your pure awesomeness. Job well-done, Captain Sustainable. Job well-done.
How to save tomato seeds. Now you know! 🙂
~Mavis
shannon says
How does that work with a fruit or veg that does not have wet seeds such as a green pepper? Can you just store them as is?
Tamara says
What variety’s have done the best for you this year? I’m looking for a tasty yet productive roma for next year in hopes to put up more tomato sauce. I had to buy them this year. I live just north of you up in Snohomish County. I had a lot of luck this year with Black Krim and Yellow Grape tomatoes. Would love to hear from other local folks on which organic/heirloom varieties did well for them also. 🙂
Cecily says
Sorry didn’t reply in the right place. See comment below. Have a great day!
Linda says
YES !!!!! I do this every year… With other veggies and fruit too !!!
Cecily says
I’m in Tacoma and ‘Japanese Black Trifele’ is my favorite and it always produces loads of fruit. ‘Giant Belgium’ is another favorite and while I rarely get more than 15-20 tomatoes per plant, they average almost a pound each. ‘Rose’ also produces fewer tomatoes per plant but the flavor is amazing, similar to ‘Brandywine’. Although it isn’t an heirloom, I like Golden San Marzano. It’s a great paste tomato that produces non stop till frost and it holds forever on the vine, plus the added bonus of golden yellow tomato sauce! Hope this inspires you!
Dena Harris says
HI Mavis,
I was wondering how you think the San Marzano tomato seeds from “Seeds of Change” seeds would fare by trying your seed saving method?
Mari says
You can just scrape out the tomato seeds, wash them and remove fruit gel, then dry on paper in the shade and store when dry. This method letting mold grow is not advised as it can cause the seeds to become sterile or take any bacteria or infections in the current fruit, thru till the next year. Keeping them wet also rots the seeds. I have just used my described method for many years and had great strike rate. I wrap the dried seeds in paper or tinfoil and keep in labeled plastic bags or envelopes in a cool dark place… I do not refrigerate my seeds. They last this way for 2-4 seasons safely.
Pepper or chilli seeds just need to be dried and stored. Peas, beans, sweetcorn should be left on the vine until dry and then stored in the dark until use. Cabbage, carrots, beets, chard etc should be allowed to go to seed then seeds harvested and dried before they fall. Pumpkins, zucchini, squash, melons etc just need to be dried, rubbed to get rid of the dried membranes, then stored. Asparagus seeds you harvest in late autumn/winter when the seedpods have dried
Some hybrid veges do not produce viable seed (coloured cauli and broccoli) and are best brought from seed suppliers. I have tried these with limited success from my own seeds. They only have a short stem viability time so its hit and miss to get them.
Hope this helps.
Charly says
Just in time! Thanks!
Lisa Millar says
Fantastic! I will try this next season… my success with saving tomato seeds has been pretty haphazard!
(mostly they pop up everywhere on their own and its pot luck to the variety!!) 🙂
Danielle says
Can you save seeds from an unripe tomato? I had one fall off the vine during a rain storm and I don’t know what to do with it. Saving the seeds from it would be awesome.
Edwin says
My wife has been saving seeds for years. The tip is to post on facebook to your and family that.you’re doing this and see if anyone else is Then, you can swap back and forth.
This year we had a lot of orphans pop up from fallen tomatoes and even pumpkins. They are doing terrfiic.
Libby says
One answer I haven’t been able to find is; how long do they need to dry before sprouting again? We live in San Diego where we can start tomatoes almost year round so I’m never sure how long they need to be dried and stored before use. Any idea???
Diane says
Assuming you planted heirlooms, how do you prevent cross pollination if you have several varieties? Else you end up with hybrid seeds, right?