Making Your Own Tomato Seeds: Ready for Next Year’s Garden
If you want to grow your own tomato seeds for next year, you can easily do it yourself. With a little knowledge and care, you can grow tomato plants that are perfectly adapted to your own garden.
Which Tomato Varieties Are Suitable for Producing Fresh Seeds?
Not all tomato plants are suitable for obtaining seeds. It is important that you obtain seeds from pure tomato varieties. This must be taken into account when buying the seeds to sow in the garden for the first time. You can then harvest more tomato seeds each year from the plants you have grown yourself.
When Is the Best Time to Harvest Tomato Seeds?
The ideal time to harvest tomato seeds is towards the end of the growing season, when the tomato plants are bearing their last fruits. It is important to take the seeds from fully ripened tomatoes in order to obtain the best characteristics. It is best to wait until late summer to early autumn.
Here's how to proceed step by step:
Select Tomatoes: Choose one or more ripe, healthy tomatoes. It is important to use the best fruits of the plant to promote strong and healthy plants.
Cut Open the Tomatoes: Cut the ripe tomatoes open crosswise so that the chambers containing the seeds are easily accessible.
Remove the Seeds: Using a teaspoon, place the seeds along with the surrounding pulp in a jar or bowl.
Place in Water: To remove the germination-inhibiting gel layer around the seeds, leave the mixture at room temperature for 2-3 days. This layer slowly dissolves and the seeds sink to the bottom. Seeds that are unable to germinate continue to float to the top and can be discarded immediately.
Rinse and Dry: Rinse the seeds under running water through a fine sieve and spread them out on kitchen paper or a plate to dry.
Drying and Storing the Seeds
The seeds must be completely dry before they are stored. This process takes about a week. It is best to dry the seeds in a warm, well-ventilated place, but not in direct sunlight.
After drying, store the seeds in small paper bags or small glass containers. These should be kept in a cool, dark, and dry place. This will keep them viable for up to five years.
Important Tips
Labelling: Don't forget to label the seed containers, otherwise there could be unwanted surprises next spring. Make a note of the variety and year of harvest.
Germination test: Before the next sowing, you can carry out a germination test to ensure that the seeds are still viable.
With these simple steps, you are well prepared to grow your own healthy tomato plants next spring. This way, you'll have your garden favourites year after year.