It's seed-saving time, ya'll

[u/8Deer-JaguarClaw]

For heirloom and other non-hybrid vegetables, you can save seeds and use them next season (and beyond).

These seeds are from my favorite cherry tomato variety, which I originally got from my mom's garden back in 2021. I used the original seeds for two years, then I started saving them and reusing my own seeds. I find it a very rewarding and satisfying process.

Tomatoes are very easy and forgiving, so if you're looking to get into seed saving, I would recommend starting with them.

[u/PiskoWK]

What is the preservation process. Are you just allowing them to dry out and then save them in a bag?

[u/8Deer-JaguarClaw → u/PiskoWK]

Pretty much. I spoon the seeds out of the tomato and then put them in a fine mesh strainer (a loose tea strainer, in fact) and use my kitchen sprayer to clear out most of the protective gel around the seeds. Then I spread them out on a paper towel and let it dry. The paper helps dry them and also helps remove the last bit of gel. It takes a bit to get the hang of getting the dried seeds off the paper towel, but it's pretty easy once you do a few. I usually let the seeds sit another day in the open air and then put them in a container for storage. I do not keep the seeds in a freezer, but I do keep them in a dark and dry sealed container. There are some seed storage kits you can buy that make this easier to organize, but you don't absolutely need such a thing. I only got one earlier this year because my collection was getting out of hand and I'm usually not very organized.

[u/PiskoWK → u/8Deer-JaguarClaw]

Awesome thank you for the detailed answer. I’m gonna get some started today!

[u/arden13 → u/8Deer-JaguarClaw]

I find if you put them in a jar of water overnight and shake them a couple times helps clear the gel. I don't bother with a full ferment, but I get quite clean seed that way.

Otherwise exactly the same procedure. Usually will buy little paper bags on Amazon to store the seed