Saving heirloom tomato seeds is a beautiful way to protect a cherished variety while also honoring a rich history and diverse flavors.
Right about now, many of us are running out to our gardens or containers to eagerly pluck our ripening tomatoes from the vine. You know if you have a winner with that first bite, and heirloom tomatoes seems to deliver above and beyond. The practice of saving heirloom tomato seeds will allow you to experience that fantastic flavor on repeat.
Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, this practice provides a meaningful link to the past and a hopeful promise for future harvests.
Choosing the Right Tomato to Save Seeds
It’s essential to start with an open-pollinated, heirloom tomato variety. Unlike hybrids, these varieties are pollinated naturally—by insects, birds, or the wind—ensuring that the seeds you collect will stay true to the original plant. This means you’ll enjoy the same delicious fruit season after season, all while maintaining the desired characteristics of your chosen heirloom.
Choosing the right tomato to save seeds from is crucial. Opt for the most robust, vibrant, and tasty fruit from your garden. This selection ensures that the best genes are passed on, contributing to the vigor and quality of future plants.
If you plan to save seeds from multiple varieties, organization is key. You’ll need to clearly label seeds and clean supplies meticulously between batches to prevent any mix-ups. Attention to detail ensures that each variety remains distinct, preserving their unique traits and stories.
Why You Should Save Heirloom Tomato Seeds
Why save seeds? The reasons are as varied as the tomatoes themselves. Sharing seeds allows you to pass down a piece of gardening history to younger generations or fellow enthusiasts. Moreover, it provides you with a direct line to reliable seeds that promise the same delicious harvests year after year. Here’s how you do it.
9 Supplies for Saving Heirloom Tomato Seeds
- Fully ripe tomatoes (give your selected tomato a taste to make sure the flavor is desirable)
- Mason jars or something comparable
- Water
- Labels
- Paper towels
- Fine sieve
- Parchment paper or paper plate
- Paper envelopes
- Marker for labeling
Step By Step instructions for How to Save Heirloom Tomato Seeds
- Slice tomatoes in half (along equator line).
- Hold tomatoes over your mason jars and squeeze or scoop out seeds along with some of the pulp/gel.
- Add a little water to cover all the seeds.
- Cover the mason jars loosely with a paper towel (helps to keep flies away). This will begin the fermentation process.
- Fermentation of harvested tomato seeds:
- Breaks down the gelatinous coating that may hinder germination.
- Eliminates specific seed-borne pathogens.
- Fermentation of harvested tomato seeds:
- Store containers in a protected area which temp remains between 70-80° (somewhere away from common places as this process can get a little, ahem, stinky).
- 3-5 days later, look for the appearance of a white ‘fungal-looking” layer.
- Discard the ‘fungal’ layer by scooping it off.
- Fill container with water and give it little swirl, then let sit for a few minutes.
- Viable seeds will sink, non viable seeds will float
- Scoop out the non viable seeds and discard
- Rinse remaining seeds a few more times until the water looks clear.
- Pour seeds into a fine sieve and drain well.
- Dump seeds onto parchment paper, coffee filter or paper plate or towel and immediately label what variety the seeds are.
- Separate seeds with a small utensil like a fork (seeds will stick to fingers).
- Allow to dry in an area away from sunlight and in a protected area for a couple of weeks.
- Package up seeds in envelopes or jars.
- Store in a cool, dry location.
- Seeds can remain viable for up to 5 years.
Saving heirloom tomato seeds is about more than just gardening; it’s about continuing a legacy of flavors, traditions, and connections that enrich lives and gardens. So, as you slice into that perfect tomato, remember that with each seed, you’re planting the potential for future gardens and memories.
~The Happy Gardener, Lisa Mulroy
