Getting seeds from tomatoes is easy, but there are a few things to keep in mind. The first thing you need to do is find a ripe tomato. This can be hard when you’re just starting out because the tomatoes don’t always ripen evenly, and some may ripen faster than others. However, you’ll eventually get the hang of it and be able to tell which ones are ripe by their color alone.
Once you’ve found a tomato that’s ripe, cut it open and scoop out the seeds into a bowl. You want to make sure that none of the juice lands in with them because this will cause them to rot. If any does get on them, wipe it off with a paper towel or something similar before placing them in your container with fresh water in it—this way they won’t rot while they’re waiting for more salt water to soak up through them.
Tomato seeds can be saved and planted to grow new tomato plants.
- Save the seeds. After you’ve eaten a tomato, let it sit until it’s completely dry.
- Plant the seeds. Use potting soil and place one seed in each hole. Pack down gently but firmly around the plant so that there is no space between the soil and root ball of your new tomato plants.
- Grow your own tomatoes by watering them regularly (approximately once per day) during warm months and less frequently (once every three days) during cooler months, making sure to give your new plants plenty of direct sunlight at all times throughout their growing process with an occasional burst of fertilizer now and then if necessary. Keep them out of direct sunlight when temperatures are too high; otherwise, they’ll get sunburned. Be careful not to over-water. When growing tomatoes indoors make sure that you’re using proper lighting for optimal growth conditions – shop our selection today.
1. Pick out the best tomatoes to use.
It’s important to pick out the best tomatoes to use. Tomatoes that are ripe and red, but not overripe. Tomatoes that are firm, but not hard. Tomatoes that are not bruised. If you’re looking for seeds from an heirloom tomato, look for ones that are unique or have interesting shapes or colors rather than ones that are simply large or small in size.
2. Slice the tomatoes in half and squeeze the seeds into a jar of water.
- Slice the tomatoes in half, from stem to bottom, and remove all seeds.
- Place the seeds in a jar of water and allow them to sit for about 15 minutes until they sink to the bottom of the jar. This will help you more easily remove them from their casing when you go to plant them later on.
- Drain out any excess liquid from your jar before planting it outside or storing it for another use like making tomato soup.
3. Leave the jar to ferment for a week, stirring it daily.
The fermentation process is simple and easy to do. You will need a glass jar with an airtight lid, or a metal container that can be sealed tightly, such as a metal tin or jar.
Place the tomato seeds in the jar and cover them with water. Make sure there is enough water to cover all of the seeds by at least 2 inches (5 cm). Place on the lid and shake well until all of your tomato seeds have been thoroughly mixed in with their soaking liquid. Leave this mixture to ferment for one week, stirring daily as best you can so that it doesn’t settle into layers at different depths in your jar or tin—this could lower how well oxygen gets into contact with all parts of your mixture during its fermentation process. Look for signs that indicate whether or not your mixture has gone bad: if there is mold growing on top of it, then obviously something went wrong. If there are bubbles forming from underneath but no mold growing on top then this means that fermentation has still happened but perhaps too slowly—try leaving it out longer next time (perhaps another week) until more bubbles appear.
4. Pour off the pulp from the top and rinse the seeds in fresh water, repeating until all of the pulp is gone.
- Pour off the pulp from the top and rinse the seeds in fresh water, repeating until all of the pulp is gone.
Using a sieve or colander to separate out any remaining pulp from your tomato seeds will ensure that you get only seedlings and not unwanted plant material. Rinse them thoroughly in water until no more foam appears on top of your bowl or bucket as this indicates that you have removed as much of the sap as possible.
5. Dry out the seeds on a paper towel for about a week
- Dry out the seeds on a paper towel for about a week.
When the tomatoes look shriveled, you can let them dry out in your kitchen. Some people suggest taking them outside to let them get some sun and air, but this is not necessary if you live in a dry climate or have very little humidity in your house (such as Arizona). Just lay them on a paper towel or newspaper and wait. They should be completely dry within one week of being picked off the vine once they’ve turned black and shrunken up considerably from their original size.
Dried tomato seeds will store in an airtight container for about five years.
You can store dried tomato seeds in an airtight container for about five years. This will keep them dry and free from mold. Be sure to label your container with the type of tomato that produced the seed, as well as the date you harvested them.
You should also store your dried tomatoes in a cool, dark place where they won’t be exposed to light or heat or humidity. This can extend their longevity by about another year or so, depending on how well you’ve stored them up until this point (see below).
Don’t store tomato seeds in the refrigerator because it’s too cold there, nor should you freeze them; doing either will compromise their viability over time. Also avoid storing them in damp places like basements or garages because this can lead to mold growth and ruin all your hard work.