Love homegrown tomatoes? Saving tomato seeds is the best way to keep your favorite varieties thriving year after year. Once you taste that perfect tomato, you’ll want to make sure you can grow it again—and it’s easier than you think!
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Saving tomato seeds has a few more steps than saving other types of seeds. It’s still a simple thing to do and in this article I will outline the steps needed to save your own tomato seeds.
Why Save Tomato Seeds?
If you’re new to seed saving, tomatoes are the perfect place to start. Not only is it rewarding, but saving seeds can save money, preserve rare varieties, and connect you to generations of gardeners. Let’s dive into how you can easily collect and store seeds—no fancy equipment required.
How To Save Tomato Seeds: Step-By-Step
1. Choose the Right Tomato
Pick a tomato that’s fully ripened, ideally from healthy, disease-free plants. It doesn’t need to ripen on the vine all the way—you can bring it indoors to finish up. Just make sure it’s mature so the seeds are fully developed.
2. Scoop Out the Seeds
Removing seeds from tomatoes is as simple as cutting the tomato into quarters and scooping out all the seeds including the “gel” like substance that surrounds the seeds. If you’re interested in alternative seed starting methods, consider our Soil Blocking: Better For You And Your Plants article.
Make sure that if you’re saving seeds from more than one tomato variety that you have different containers for each one so you can keep track. All tomato seeds look the same.
3. Ferment The Seeds
Tomato seeds are covered in a gelatin like substance around each individual seed. In order to save seeds for planting next year the seeds need to be cleaned so they can be dried completely. If the seeds aren’t sufficiently dry when they are stored they can rot and won’t be viable.
To “clean” tomato seeds we need to ferment them in water. This process takes a week or two but it doesn’t take much effort once you have it set up.
How To Ferment Tomato Seeds?
- Once you have your unclean tomato seeds in a glass, fill the glass with clean water.
- Stir the water/seed mixture once per day to break up the seeds a little bit.
- Cover the glass with a paper towel or cloth to prevent bugs but allow air flow.
- Stir the water/seed mixture once a day. As it ferments the gel will break down and the seeds will become cleaner over time.
- Mold can form on the top of the water. This is normal during the fermentation process.
- After 1-2 weeks all of the viable seeds should be settled on the bottom of the glass and any remaining gelatin should be floating. Fermentation is complete.
4. Rinse and Clean
Once the fermentation process is finished we need to wash the seeds and prepare to dry them. Any viable seeds will be at the bottom of the glass.
Simply rinse the glass with clean water and slowly pour out the water along with any floating seeds and left over tomato gelatin making sure to leave the viable seeds in the glass. Repeat the process until all that is left is clean water and clean seeds.
Pour out as much of the water as possible so that you only have seeds left in the glass. It’s OK if there is still as little bit of water left at this point.
5. Dry Thoroughly
Pour out all of the tomato seeds onto a paper towel and pat dry to remove most of the remaining water.
Once the seeds are as dry as they’ll get, they need to do a bit more air drying. Scrap the tomato seeds off of the paper towel and onto a small plate or other glass dish. You could leave them on the paper towel but as they dry they will have a tendency to stick to the paper towel.
Leave the seeds out to dry in a well ventilated area for a week or two. Occasionally break up any clumps of seeds to prevent them from sticking to each other.
6. Store For Next Season
Store completely dry seeds in a paper envelope, airtight jar, or plastic bag in a cool, dark place. Adding a silica gel packet can help prevent moisture buildup. Label your seeds with the variety and date to keep track of their age.
Fast Seed-Saving Hack
Don’t have time to ferment? Simply smear seeds onto a paper towel, let dry, and store—just know that germination might be lower than with the fermentation method.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Saving Tomato Seeds:
What is the best method to save tomato seeds?
The most effective method involves fermenting the seeds to remove the gelatinous coating that contains germination inhibitors. This process includes extracting seeds from a fully ripe tomato, fermenting them in water for a few days, rinsing thoroughly, and then drying them completely before storage.
Can I Save Seeds from Hybrid Tomatoes?
You can save seeds from hybrid tomatoes, but they likely won’t grow true to the parent plant. Hybrid seeds are a cross between two varieties, so the offspring may have unpredictable traits. If you want reliable results, stick to saving seeds from open-pollinated or heirloom varieties.
What’s the Difference Between Heirloom and Hybrid Tomato Seeds?
- Heirloom seeds: Open-pollinated varieties that grow true to type each generation, making them ideal for seed saving.
- Hybrid seeds: Crosses between two different varieties, often bred for disease resistance or productivity. Their offspring can have unpredictable traits.
Do I Need to Separate Different Tomato Varieties When Growing for Seed Saving?
Tomatoes are primarily self-pollinating, so cross-pollination is rare but possible. To ensure pure seeds, you can separate different varieties by 10-20 feet or use mesh bags over blossoms to prevent accidental cross-pollination.
Can I Save Seeds from Diseased Tomato Plants?
It’s best to avoid saving seeds from diseased plants. Some plant diseases, such as bacterial canker, can be transmitted through seeds. Always choose the healthiest plants for seed saving to prevent spreading diseases.
Is There a Faster Way to Save Tomato Seeds Without Fermenting Them?
Yes! If you’re short on time, you can skip fermentation by:
- Scooping seeds directly onto a paper towel.
- Rinsing them under water to remove as much gel as possible.
- Spreading them out to dry. This method is quicker but may result in lower germination rates.
Can I Save Seeds from Store-Bought Tomatoes?
Yes, but there are some considerations. Many store-bought tomatoes are hybrids, meaning their seeds may not produce plants that are identical to the parent. Additionally, store tomatoes may be treated to prevent germination. If you want to save seeds from a store tomato, choose an organic, heirloom variety for the best results.
How Long Do Saved Tomato Seeds Last?
When stored properly in a cool, dry place, tomato seeds can remain viable for 4-6 years. Freezing them in an airtight container can extend their lifespan even further.
More Tomato Growing Resources
- How To Grow Tomatoes From Seed To Harvest.
- The 3 Best Companion Plants For Tomatoes
- Tomatoes: A Weed or Invasive Species?
- When and How to Transplant Tomato Seedlings
- Common Tomato Diseases And How To Fix Them
Final Thoughts
Saving tomato seeds is a simple and effective way to preserve your favorite varieties for future gardens. By understanding the best practices for fermentation, drying, and storage, you can ensure high germination rates and healthy plants year after year. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, seed saving is a rewarding skill that connects you to generations of growers before you.
We hope you enjoyed this seed saving guide. If you did make sure you check out the other growing guides, seed saving guides and our recipes. We are growing our website with more articles all the time, and we invite you to grow with us. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, saving tomato seeds can be an enriching experience. If you have any questions or want to share your seed saving journey, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy gardening!
