How to Collect Tomato Seeds

Articles by Master Gardeners, Bamboo, Bean, Berry, Germination, Green bean, Orange, Ottawa, pH, tomato, Towel, Vegetables, Vine, Winter

First of all, you want to collect seeds from heritage or open-pollinated tomatoes. If you collect seeds from hybrid tomatoes, there is no telling what tomato will come from the seed. My Polish Raspberry tomato is an heirloom so I will be growing the same tomato with each seed collected. Seventy-four

Greetings fellow gardeners,

The heat seems to be backing off and I was able to get back to working in the garden. The goutweed now has less of a presence and the joy of seed saving has begun.

Collecting Tomato Seeds

The time to consider saving your tomato seeds is now. Save seeds from your favourite tomatoes and be sure to use good quality tomatoes. One tomato that I enjoy is a small heritage Polish tomato we refer to as Polish Raspberry. As you can see in the photograph, the Polish tomato is oval and starts out green. It moves from green into orange and from orange into red. When it is a deep red, it is ready to pick for seed-saving.

Polish raspberry tomatoes growing on their vine — A Polish Raspberry tomato at various stages

First of all, you want to collect seeds from heritage or open-pollinated tomatoes. If you collect seeds from hybrid tomatoes, there is no telling what tomato will come from the seed. My Polish Raspberry tomato is an heirloom so I will be growing the same tomato with each seed collected.

There are several ways to collect tomato seeds including one that involves fermentation. I have had no problem collecting viable tomato seeds without using fermentation. You can look up tomato seed fermentation should you wish. After you choose a ripe tomato, cut it open and scoop out the seeds. You can leave the seed mass to dry on paper towels and then store the seeds once they are dry, in an envelope in a cool dry place. Often, if you are using this method, the seeds will stick to the paper towels. I have planted the seeds with the paper towel bits stuck to them and have had excellent germination. The other way of collecting tomato seeds is to scoop them out into a sieve and wash the gel off. Place the cleaned seeds on a plate to dry so they do not stick. Once dried they can be stored in an envelope in a cool dry place.

Drying tomato seeds on paper towels — Tomato Seed Collection

Scarlett Runner Beans

My second planting of scarlet runner beans is a glorious sight.

Scarlett runner beens on their vines — Scarlet runner beans

These scarlet runner beans have grown past the cage and are now creeping up the bamboo supports. Pole beans are a wonderful addition to a vegetable garden. You can grow them in the sun or even partial shade against almost any vertical support. They will brighten a fence or a gate with bright flowers and later, long tasty beans. Most of us are very familiar with scarlet runner beans but there are other pole beans that you can grow with different colours and flavours. Kentucky Blue pole beans are a very dark green and have a bluish-purple flower. My personal favourite is the Purple-podded pole bean which has a lovely purple flower and deep purple beans; the Hyacinth bean is very similar and is more available. I find that the beans are tastiest when they are young. If you leave the beans on the vine, you can harvest the seeds once the pods dry to eat as baked beans through the winter. You can also plant these seeds for a crop the following year.

Continue to be diligent with your watering and enjoy your week. Judith. Contact Judith through her Website https://www.lapisdragonarts.com/. Find more weekly Veggie Bites experiences on the Veggie Bites page.

About the Author

Judith Cox

Judith Cox is a Master Gardener and President of the Stittsville Goulbourn Horticultural Society . The many topics covered in her blogs include starting a garden, planting seeds, selecting the best seeds, identifying specific plants, and growing produce other than what is found at the grocery store. Every issue offers solutions to common issues faced by gardeners, including wildlife, whether to water, pests, snails, and other issues. During the winter, Judith writes for local journals and newspapers, give talks at local horticultural clubs on a range of gardening topics. She also finds time to run a small business selling watercolor and pen and ink cards.