How to Save Tomato Seeds for Next Year

In this organic gardening video, Brian with California Garden TV shows you, step by step, how to save your tomato seeds to grow next year. You can easily save your seeds for growing next year by fermenting them.

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[NMWriterofWords]

I've saved seeds my entire life I do it because my grandparents who raised me saved seeds so the seeds I have come from plants he started saving seeds from back in the 1930s

[JS-jlyj]

More than 10 years ago, my daughter bought me a box of different veggie and herb seeds at a garden show. In that seed collection was a packet of heirloom cherry tomatoes (I call them purple tomatoes). I have never seen the purple tomato seeds in the stores, so I started saving their seeds. I had never heard of fermenting the seeds until a couple of years ago, when I came across a video about fermenting tomato seeds. I decided to do a comparison test between Method #1 fermented vs Method #2 un-fermented seeds. #1: I fermented my saved tomato seeds just like you did in this video, dried them on parchment paper. I saved the dry fermented seeds in a DIY envelope made from aluminum foil and labeled the envelope as FERMENTED. #2: I put the freshly harvested seeds in a medium-sized stainless steel sieve and placed the sieve in a bowl of cold tap water. I gently massaged the seeds with my fingertips to remove the jelly sacks, I changed the water in the bowl several times until I was sure that all the sacks were removed and the water came out clear. I dried the seeds in the same way as the fermented seeds and labeled the envelope as UN-FERMENTED. The fermented seeds and the un-fermented seeds performed equally well when I planted them the following Spring. I planted them indoors and later transplanted them in the garden. I could not see any difference in the way the plants developed or the quantity or quality of the tomatoes they produced. The fruit grew up to 1". I got up to 21 tomatoes on one flower branch. BTW, I use the same un-fermented method for saving my true English cucumber seeds with great results.

[AtlantaTerry]

I know about tomato seed fermentation. But if I come across a tomato that tastes good, I simply smear some of its seeds on a paper napkin then write down the date and source. Next season, I use a pair of scissors to cut away ones I want to sprout. This works well for me.

[karthikbhat]

I don’t know who could possibly dislike this eye opening video 🥲

[torgeirmolaug]

I just rub the seeds against paper towel to remove the gel and then let them dry thoroughly on a plate before storing.

[tnicole]

I did this and forgot about the cup in the cabinet and had tomatoes sprouting in the water when I finally remembered. 😄

[maryiorio]

I read about tomato seed saving in a book, and it sounded so difficult, I doubted I would ever try. But, your video makes it look sooo easy! Now I know I can handle it. Thanks!

[christys]

I learned to seed save as a kid from my Grandpa. Loving memories for sure. He gifted me some of his seeds when my husband and I bought our first home. We still seed save today. And now my children seed save with me.
But also yes, restraint with the seed buying a must. Leave seeds for others!

[justmepraying]

Had a friend give me seeds his mother had saved 5yrs after her death when he cleared out her home so I tried to grow them and they have done great and he was so happy and I was also. Thank you for putting all this out there for all of us you are a blessing 🙏🇺🇸❤

[beckysheetz]

Explanation of how to use the blossom bag: brilliant. Thank you Brian! NOW I get it!

[groussac]

Using the fermentation method you describe, I started saving tomato seed 3 years ago when a Big Boy volunteer impressed me with its will to live. Without any special care from me, it grew a thick stalk, and produced fruit weighing in at abt 1 lb each. I know growing from hybrid seed doesn't guarantee the same properties as the parent, but so far so good. This year (3rd generation) there was one plant with oblate fruit, but the rest were round like the typical Big Boy. I saved seed from the round tomatoes. Saving your own tomato seed is easy; it opens up possibilities unavailable in market varieties; it creates varieties that are attuned to your particular garden; and it saves money. I see tomato seed offered on line @ $3.99+ for 10 seeds. 10 seeds! That's 40¢ a seed! I know these guys have to make a living, but damn. The cost alone is incentive enough to start saving your own seed.

[gardenlady]

When I was a child in the 50s my grandparents had a small farm My grandmother always saved her tomato seeds by drying them on muslin laid in a sunny windowsill. She then wrapped them in the muslin and stored them in her cabinet. I use her method and have always had viable seeds.

[fionaharvey]

Great video I will do that this year! I unintentionally saved seeds from last year, as I had a bucket of newly sifted homemade compost in the greenhouse after a week I noticed all these tomato seedlings sprouting up! I was able to use some and I gave loads away! Pleasant surprise! ☘️☘️☘️☘️🍅🍅

[kimiyemlsmallgardendream]

That was what I’ve been waiting for over 2 years!!! Ive been on so many different YouTube sites trying to find exactly what you demonstrated in minutes! Thank you more than you know ❤️🍅🍅🍅❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Radnally]

You are the tomato guru.
Juliets do really well at my garden at 5800' elevation and i want to use only them next year.

[moodyhap]

Great info! Would love to see the rest of the process, how you wash/sift and dry them...just for the visual pleasure lol.

[IndianaNature]

So glad you told everyone not to save seeds from hybrid tomatoes. Also, tomatoes blossoms pollinate themselves so you don't need to bag em. And I would save the seeds onto a paper plate and never a paper towel....seeds tend to stick on the towel.

[berniboern]

Last year I saved seeds from a red egg like tomato. I had a lot of rounded yellow tomatoes around it. This year it became a yellow egg like tomato :D

[nanarose]

OMG!!! Your knowledge never ceases to amaze me. I ordered seeds late this year and had a horrible time finding them in stock until I discovered Calikim’s. Some seeds I wanted from others were unavailable or came way too late. I will definitely use your method here. Thanks again for another fantastic video. Side note~I loved your face when you were talking about animals eating the plants and you said “rats”. They are clearly your nemesis as are squirrels for me. Love your humor and smile. Thanks again! ❤️

[cindyhewatt]

The seed companies definitely sold out a lot of things I wanted this year, now I can go save some of my tomato seeds!