How to Save Tomato Seeds for Personal Use. Step by step instructions.
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- Опубліковано 3 вер 2015
- One of the great things about growing heirloom tomatoes, is that you can save the seeds and grow them again the next year.
This shows how to save seeds using fermentation to get cleaner and more viable seeds.
I garden in zone 6b. We have some pretty challenging weather sometimes. I don't claim to be an expert, so you will see my successes and my failures. I really appreciate feedback, so please say hi so I'll know you've dropped by.
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I also have a gardening blog at: mygardenyourgarden.blogspot.com
I recently started a page on facebook. It will include photos and some additional information that doesn't show up on youtube. / midwestgardener
we must protect this precious man at all costs
Thank you very much, Marnee! That is very kind of you. Comments like this one help keep me going :)
He is a national treasure ..salt of the earth
I agree. ❤️
The world needs your wisdom sir!! We who are new to this wonderful endeavor are desperate for real knowledge! Bless you!!
You sir, are like the Bob Ross of gardening whose videos are completely relaxing while at the same time, a bit energizing to the mind causing me to visualize in what patch of earth will I plant this or that. When I’m looking for answers you’re at the top of my go-to videos. Thanks for making them.✋😁✌️
Thank you for the very kind and uplifting comment!! I needed that :)
We can all use a bit of kindness about now. Thanks for the video.
Ha! I love this. So TRUE!!!
Thank you for this video, even 5 years later! I have German Heirloom seedlings my Uncle received from an old Farmer in our area who is trying to retire. He gave me and my Dad 4 plants each. All of us agreed to try and save these since the Farmer said they were the same ones his parents handed down to him and we are the last family to come to him for bushels every year. I have the very first of my plants that ripened and I'm doing this now before I forget about it! Thanks again!
That's awesome! Thanks for sharing that story. I really love to hear examples of people trying to save old family heirlooms. I'm glad that you and your dad care enough to try to keep them going! You're welcome.
This video is where I first learned how to do this. During the pandemic I saved some tomato seeds and two years later they are indeed still viable! Thank you!
Thank you very much for sharing that with me! That makes my day when I hear that somebody has leaned something from a video that has been useful years later!!
Thank you very much for this video. I live in Minnesota, zone 4b, last year I tossed rotten Roma tomatoes into the wildflower garden for the animals to eat. This year I had Roma tomatoes grow from seed outside in that garden and produce a bountiful crop of fruit. I figure this must be a hardy variety and I want to save the seeds for next year. But the way, I am constantly experimenting in my gardens. I get volunteer plants growing in the oddest places. When asked why I let that happen, I just answer it is an experiment.
You're welcome! I love a good experiment. And many times, those volunteer plants are welcome surprises.
I just bought a couple of non-identified heirloom tomatoes from the farmer's market this weekend (they looked like yours, and taste LOVELY!), and part of the reason was so I could get some seeds. I watched another video about putting them in water, but you took us through the whole process. Thank you.
You're welcome! Great idea to save the seeds from ones you really like.
Young Gardner here. Zone 5. This is my 3rd garden. I've learned a lot from my 80+ neighbor lady. This year she informed me that she is scaling back. I must learn this year how to save seed for next year. I just wanted some base facts before I go next door to class. Thank you for this video!
I was blessed with over 20 breeds of heirloom tomatoes
You're very welcome! Sounds like you had a good mentor. Now is as good a time as any to start growing from seeds.
A blessing indeed.
I did this with an F1 miniature cherry variety I bought last year. I removed the seeds from one tomato and ended up with about 50 plants. They actually dried out in the ramekin I had placed them in on the kitchen window sill and were there for a year. I scraped them off, placed them onto a piece of kitchen roll and folded it up, placed that inside a plastic take-away container, dampened the kitchen roll and when I came back a few days later, nearly every single seed had sprouted. I gave away stacks of plants this year as I just didn't need them all. Kept about 10 and with the vine tomatoes I grew, made some home made passata. Incredible stuff!
Well done! You gotta love it when a plan comes together :)
Thank you so much!
I was just wondering how to do this with the ones im growing this year. I wanted them every year for the rest of life lol
You're welcome! If it's an heirloom you can have it every year for the rest of your life :)
Thank you. This is the first year I have attempted to save seeds and this is so informative.
You're welcome Stephanie! I hope it works great for you.
Finding my grow lights and seedlings are adding to better tomatoes and will be trying this
Thank you for the teaching Sir
You're welcome. Good luck!
You do an excellent job explaining how to dry heirloom tomato seeds ! Extremely helpful , in learning the simple process of how to do it . Thank You Midwest Gardener ! 😊
You're welcome, Lyle! Thanks for the kind words and comment!
I was going about this in the wrong way at prior to this video by removing the seeds and placing them on a paper towel and storing them away back in 2022. I'm now following this fermentation process you showed here from now on in 2023. You have helped me save my Cherokee purple tomato which is currently one of the best tasting fruits I ever tasted and hopefully they will germinate for me in the 2024 growing season. I have subscribed :) Please keep on teaching us and thank you
You're very welcome! Glad I could help! I'm also glad you are saving seeds from a fantastic tomato.
I'm new to all this and I'm fascinated. Keep on sharing the knowledge.
Glad you enjoyed it! I'll keep going till I can't :)
Thank you for sharing. I had a volunteer Cherry tomato variety come up this year from last years attempt. It was among my weeds in my garden so I carefully cleared around it. Seems as they accustom to your area they become more productive. The one plant is over 6 feet tall and spread out over 6 feet in diameter. I propped all the side branching up and it has produced way more than I can eat. It is still producing today after 3 months of non stop producing. I am going to try and save a lot of sees from it. It is an impressive plant. Thank you for showing how to better save the seeds.
You're welcome Rik! I'm glad that I could help. Good call on saving seeds from that plant. Sounds like you have a real keeper there. I've had a happy accident or two happen to me like that in the past. It's good to take advantage of it when it does happen. Good luck with it!
Thanks for this video. I just saved some from my yellow pear tomatoes following your advice.
You're welcome, Adair! Glad I could help!
Thank you! Did this just this morning to some black icicle romas that will live on in my garden thanks to you
You're welcome, Andrea! Glad to hear it!
Thank you for this information! It's so simple yet so out of this world for many people in today's societies.
You're welcome! True....it is pretty simple.
I watched this last year and after harvesting my 2 different types of tomatoes that I bought at the store for $4.99 each, I saved the seeds. I had Big Master tomatoes that were large and heirloom shaped, but acidic, and Big Beef tomatoes that were sweet and round. This year with the help of pollinators I got a large, sweeter tomato without hardly any pulp or seed. You better believe I'm saving seeds from these !!/:)
That is awesome! Hope you get even better tomatoes next season!
Thanks so much for this!! I bought a “cherry tomato” this year that isn’t. I don’t know what it is, but it has the best sweet tasty tiny tomatoes I have ever had! I want them back next year! This will make it happen!!
You're welcome! Glad I could help!
You Sir are a legend 🙌
Thanks! That is very kind of you to say.
Thank you so much! I am a beginner! I will do as you did! Good tips! I really appreciate!🌹👍
You're welcome! Good luck!
Thank you, it was easier then I expected and I'm looking forward to growing these gigantic roma tomatoes I found in a small local grocery store here in N. Texas.
You're welcome, Karen! I'm glad it worked well for you.
Perfectly inspirational and informational. Soaking my seeds now !
Thanks Chris! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you! Watched and saved your video last year. Followed all your steps with my BeefSteak tomatoes and it worked perfectly! Thank you for teaching me something new!!!
You're very welcome! Thanks for taking the time to drop back in and letting us know that it worked for you. I really appreciate that.
Thank you for straight forward video ,happy gardening .
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, Mark! Much appreciated.
Thanks, Jim! I will try this with some of my heirloom tomatoes this year. I didn't have too much luck with tomatoes this year because of our weather, but I'm hoping for a good year in 2016!
+Susan Robinson Be sure to let me know how it goes. I've heard a lot of people say that this year wasn't very good for their tomatoes. I guess I was one of the lucky ones. Our soil drains pretty well, so that helps on the wet years like we had this year. Good luck with next years garden. I'm already looking forward to it, even though we are just now getting into our fall garden. The beans have blooms, and the squash is setting on nicely.
Good to know the moldy substance is not an issue. Thank you!
You're welcome! Yes, it will almost always get that stuff.
Thanks great video from England UK
You're welcome! Thanks for watching from the UK.
Great video👍🏻👍🏻 thank you sir. Time to start growing my food during this quarantine. Take care 🙏🏼
You're welcome Jennifer! I'm with you. It's a great time to be growing your own food. Stay safe!
Boyyyy didn’t need this!!! Thank you so much!! ❤❤
You're welcome!
Thank you Midwest gardner, just what i wanted to know,
You're welcome Shaun! I'm glad that I could help!
Thank you for posting this, very informative and helped out alot
Thanks Candice! I'm glad that I could help.
Thank you! Doing this now for my garden next year 😊
Your welcome!
You're very right about this method, have had 100% germination of saved seed before using it.
Good to know! Thanks for sharing how it worked for you!
Greetings to you sir, thank you for sharing your knowledge and time! People like you are beautiful!
Thank you very much, Rob! I really appreciate that!
Wonderful wonderful clear video. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you!
I love listening to you videos your voice is relaxing. Sone people i can't listen to lol I'm kinda crazy thank you for all your knowledge
Thank you very much Lisa! I really do appreciate that. I'm glad that I can be helpful once in a while :)
Great easy to follow video!
Thanks William!
AUGUST 2022, Sir, your information and help is timeless. Thank you so much for a clear and very precise instructional film.
You're welcome, Keith! Glad it was helpful!
Very informative and valuable at this season in time. Thank you.
Thanks! Glad it was helpful!
Excellent excellent video, much better than all the others out there. God bless you 🙏
Thank you very much for that!
@@MidwestGardener No, thank YOU. You have no idea how much angst I've endured with some other videos. I've already put my seeds in water since watching your video today, just waiting for them to do their thing now 😃 Stay safe and well provided for 🤗🌹🍅🍇🍉🍊🍒
@@safi456 Well, you're very welcome! I'm glad that I could help.
What a wonderful video...informative, great demonstration....thank you!
Thanks you very much! Glad it was helpful!
Thanks a lot, that was helpful.
Greetings from Germany.
You're welcome Jud! It's good to have another viewer from Germany.
I have watched this video as well as dozens of others on how to save tomato seeds. For at least 2 months I have contemplated on whether to comment or not. I just have an opinion and since we have become friends I thought I should bring it up. I think your method is second best in my situation. More tomato, no water, smaller container. I have used that method a few times that you use and the seeds are hard to dry and the germ is lower. Just my situation though. Perhaps it may help or not. You have brought a ton of intrigue into my growing life and I wanted to share the idea that may be more speedy and resilient. Hope that didn't come out wrong. Thanks tons from this share!
Thanks for sharing what works for you! Any opinions, suggestions, or shared experience is always welcome! The more information out there, the better.
Many thanks for making this video! I need to try this . ☺
You're very welcome! It's a great way to save a little money by saving your own seeds.
Thanks, I just used this video to save my first tomato seeds from two speckled roman tomatoes that were nice and overripe. When we were starting seeds for Spring back in March, I realized I had forgotten to order speckled roman tomato seeds last year to restock, and we were down to our last seed. Thankfully it germinated, and the plant seemed to take forever to mature and fruit, we put them outside in May, and other varieties were flowering and setting fruit not long after back in June. Anyway in about a week we should have plenty of seeds for next year and beyond.
Glad you hear you were able to save some seeds that were getting scarce. Seed saving is a great way to stay ahead of shortages, I think. Next year and beyond is a great way to look at it.
Thank you so much, from Australia! I have some heirlooms for the first time this year which I'd like to take seeds from!
You're very welcome! I hope you learn to love heirlooms like I have. There are so many great ones to choose from.
@@MidwestGardener I'm only a beginner! This is only my 2nd season of growing my own and my first growing heirlooms. So this tutorial is very much appreciated! Thanks again! Cheers!
I'm glad that I could help! I hope you have a great growing season! Can't wait to get something growing outside :)
Thanks for sharing your videos and keep them coming please.
You're welcome, Charley! I'll try.
Glad I found this one Jim. I'm gonna save some San Marzano seeds.
Good deal. I'm glad that I could help. And you've got a bunch you could save seeds from too! You had a pretty good tomato year!
San Marzano are my favorite. They're great for canning sauce, salsa AND eating.
Great video. Thank you I am doing this tonight😀
You're welcome, Kathyjo! Good luck!
Thanks jim. I usally buy them. Next year ill have my own seeds thanks
You're welcome Doug! I hope it works well for you!
Thank you very much, i harvested the majority of my Tomatoes today and completely forgot about saving seeds until I already added half of them to my chili!
Luckily I still have plenty on the vine. This is my first year gardening.
You're welcome. I'm glad that I could help. If this is your first year of gardening, keep in mind that the resulting plants might not be like the mother plant unless it is an heirloom.
@@MidwestGardener Thanks for the tip! But I bought all heirloom seeds! I try to get as close to nature as much as possible!
@@mynameisearlb Awesome!
Thank you we will follow along with your process
You're welcome Ray! I hope it works well for you.
Best idea yet... solved ny Problem.. thanks so much !
Thanks! You're welcome!
Thank you for this Video and good explication.
You're welcome!
Hello sir
Thank you so much, now I will save some seeds.
You're very welcome!
Brilliant video thanks.
Thank you very much, Andy!
I realize this is an old video, still very helpful all the same, thank you.
I am pleased to say that I had my first big steak crop, first attempt this summer, anyway I thought, why not try saving seeds! So pleased to see that I did it this way- in water, then strainer and finally on a paper towel.....however, they have dried/stuck onto it & I thought I may just plant the paper towel in seed mix and 🤞🏽 hope for the best, so, my question is, has anybody else done this before please?
I've never done it, but I've heard of people using paper towels to make seed tape. I'm thinking that if you jus plant a tiny piece of paper towel with the seed on it, it should sprout just fine as long as it is a viable seed. I just used the paper towel to soak up some of the water then put them on a paper plate to dry. I don't bother with the paper towels anymore. Good luck!
@@MidwestGardener thank you for your speedy reply, very much appreciated.
I will still do that with my paper, I will be keen to see if they will be viable.
However, I am attempting to do it again, but then onto a paper plate like you've done. Thank you, its Autumn & im hopeful from Rotorua NZ 😊
@@eboh23peace Hope it all goes well. It's always sad when a growing season comes to an end, but it's also fun to plan for next season.
Thanks! Seems super easy from your video.
Glad it was helpful! It is pretty easy.
Great job. Thanks.
Thanks William! And you're welcome. Glad I could help.
It’s been awhile for me I had to take a refresher course watching this video good information I was afraid I miss a step getting old does that to you lol
Lol, you don't have to tell me about getting old....I'm and expert at it :)
Thank you sir, doing this today 🦋
You're very welcome!
Great video. Thank you.
You're welcome, Douglas! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing this.
You're welcome, Christine! Glad I could help.
Hy💗🙋🙋
GOOD JOB,GOOD VIDEO!!! I know this is an old video,but still good info.
Thank you!! I'm very glad that you thought it was useful!
BETTER is the worst enemy of GOOD. When good is goody enough....why make it better and fck it up. That happens to soooo many things today spesl tecngly.
Right on eh just that simple . Thanks a bunch eh .. I'm going to do that 👍🙏
You're welcome!
Hi! Thanks for the tips! Just sprouted some lettuce and thyme seeds. Gonna start my maters now!
Hi. You're welcome! Good luck with your garden this year!
@@MidwestGardener Thank you! Is there a quicker way to get the slime off the seeds? Can I put them on a paper towel and rub the slime off with a spoon? And do the seeds have to be dry before planting?
I don't know of a short cut. I always let them completely dry.
@@MidwestGardener ok thank you!
Great video thank you!
You're welcome, Samantha!
Thank you I’m going to bed trying this on my big boy tomato plant this year for next!!!
You're welcome! Since Big Boy is a hybrid, if you save seeds from it, the resulting plants won't be like the plant you saved seeds from. They will be different. If you save seeds from an heirloom tomato, those would breed true to type and be like the mother plant.
@@MidwestGardener oh wow ,much I don’t know I think lol thanks for letting me know !
Would they still be good from a big boy one you think?
@@littlemiss2330 They would probably still sprout, but they won't grow a big boy....it will be different.
Very Nice. Thank You.
Thanks! You're very welcome!
Very helpful👍
Thanks! I'm glad that I could help!
Awesome thank you!!!
You're very welcome!
I love this! My family and I just moved out to some acrage and plan to "farmstead". We are hoping to start a small garden this spring planting just a few things. Eventually we will expand it. But since we are newbies and just learning we want to start small. You are helping so much! Did you let this soak in vinegar or water?
Thanks Julie! Congratulations on the move. I think that is a wise choice to start small, and learn as you go. I use water for fermenting tomato seeds. Glad that I could help.
@@MidwestGardener Thank you for such a quick response!! We are excited to get started (although my kids are not excited for the extra chores! haha)
@@juliea4365 You're welcome. They will look back on those chores fondly some day.
Great video!! Subscribed!!
Awesome! Thank you!
Thank you I have learned from you
You're welcome!
Thank you. ♡
You're very welcome Regina! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Thanks Jim!
You're welcome Duke!
@@MidwestGardener I have a question... the seeds that float, are they any good? About half of mine are floating....Thanks again!
The ones that float won't germinate, so just pour those off with any mold.
@@MidwestGardener Thanks ol buddy
@@RuffCut You're welcome!
Lol lol
I literally just sat here and picked out every seed from 6 tomatoes before finding this video
Im in zone 6b as well
Well Nikki, at least you will be ready for next time :) It's always good to hear from another zone 6b gardener.
Lol
bet it didnt take you a week lol
Thank you.😊
You're welcome!
This is amazing my fiance just leaves the seeds on a cutting board until it drys...then scraps it off after ...in the mean time there flys everywhere!!
Thanks! Yes, that is one probably with doing it that way.
Great video. I will use this method in the future. Thank you. I just subscribed too.
You're welcome! Glad I could help! Thanks for the sub!
This is awesome thank you 2018
You're very welcome!
💚💚💚💚 bookmark/notes: seeing the jelly seperate on bottom of transparent round bowl surface like a projector slide show ( throwing tomatoes like what the movie business do for preventing same accident ) or at least a quicker full belly to do on purpose later ) …..ect….tbc…..-g-b, bot
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Hi im wanting to try this i live here in nc and never planted anything but i love tomatoes and would love to try my hand at growing my own
I would say....go for it. It's worth a try.
@@MidwestGardener thanks! We eat a ton of tomatoes i love them myself
@@kittycub9960 You're welcome!
Thanks!
You're very welcome Missy!
Very good video and maybe I missed it, but is that just plain water? I grew some very good heirlooms from Lowe’s this year and I want to save some of those seeds for the years to come.
Yes, just plain water. The less water you can get by with, the better. Yep, saving seeds is a lot cheaper in the long run.
👍🍅 thank you Sir
You're very welcome!
Hello, thanks for this video. Is it best to save seeds from aging tomatoes still left on the truss?
You're welcome! Glad I could help!
Thank you
You're welcome!
Great video! I have some dried seeds I left out for two days, but they still have some tomato around them and would like to know if I could use this method even if they're already dry? I want to store them until next year and I don't want them to mold. Not sure if its too late?!!?!
Well, sometimes they can still germinate even with bits of the tomato left on the seed. I'm not sure how well it would work after they are already dry, because I've never tried that. But if it was me, I think I might try it on half, and store the other half the way they are.
Fermentation is the best method the gel sac inhibits germination
Thank you♥️
You're welcome, Kowsalya!
Sweet of you garderner🥰
I do this with both Ailsa Craig, and Brandywine.. several seasons on both varieties..
Great to hear it! Those saved seeds will come in handy.
Thanks Good video
You're welcome! Glad you think so.
@@MidwestGardener yer thank got a great tomato harvest this year. In fact to many they are coming from no where but i want to save the 7 varieties i bought from the garden centre, then when i identify these tomatoes that came from nothing ile save them too. ,,😁
thank you granpa
You're welcome!
Have you ever grown a tomato plant that produced tomatoes that had germinated seeds inside the mature tomatoes? I have a couple of times and it was weird! I have found out that the fermentation produces an enzyme which stops this from happening in tomatoes. I don't know if saving other seed can have this problem...I save seed from melons and I don't have to ferment them. I have some seed from a Vietnam watermelon that I have been saving for several years. I try to save seed from the best melon each year. If I knew how I'd put a picture of one here on your page.
I never have had that happen with any of my tomatoes, but there is always a first time. Selecting the best to save seeds from is a great strategy!
Can you plant them right after harvesting or must they soak and dry?
thahk you so much
You're welcome!
Jim,if I am growing 10 different kinds of open pollinated tomatoes say 3 feet apart, will the plants cross pollinate? I am confused with all the different videos saying yes and no. I trust and respect your knowledge of tomatoe growing. I will be growing alot of different open pollinated tomatoes this spring and I want to save seed from them all but I dont have alot of free space to plant them far apart. Thanks for any help in clarifying this for me.
Hi David. There is always a chance that the could cross pollinate, but where I'm at, I almost never have my tomatoes cross pollinate. I have it happen with my peppers sometimes though. I think it is more likely to happen in some areas than others, because of the different populations of bee species. I've spent a lot of hours in our garden over the years, and I've only seen a bee on a tomato bloom a hand full of times. I've seen small bees on our peppers occasionally though, and that is why they get crossed sometimes. I guess my question would be....do you ever see bees on your tomato blooms?
@@MidwestGardener i didn't see alot of bees this year and in fact years prior. I suppose I will play this in the most careful way that I can. I appreciate your help and getting back with me so quickly. Thanks Jim.
One question I have, is it possible to do this in a mason jar with a pickle pipe on top? Could that perhaps help to reduce mold buildup?
Will be testing this over the weekend and will update if You’ve never trialed it yourself
I've never tried that myself, but it's an interesting thought. Yes, an update on how that works for you would be appreciated. I'm thinking that others would also be interested in hearing how it works for you.