Strong seedlings are the key to a plentiful harvest. So that the shoots are not weak, you need to collect seeds from healthy plants, preferably your own: so you will be sure of their quality. In this article, we will discuss how to collect tomato seeds.
Fruit selection
Tomatoes for future crops need to be selected ripe from the first two brushes. Tomatoes should be “bright representatives” of the required variety in shape, color, size. Remember that selection - selecting the strongest and most delicious crops - provides seeds with the best set of genes.
How to collect tomato seeds
The seeds inside the tomato are in the seed coat. It contains special substances - inhibitors that prevent seeds from developing and germinating inside the vegetable. In nature, the propagation of a crop begins when the fruit rots. In this case, the inhibitors cease to fulfill their function. At home, the process can be accelerated.
Now, in more detail about how to properly collect tomato seeds at home.
- To "ripen" a tomato, that is, leave it in a well-lit place until it becomes soft. If phytophthora or rot appears on the fetus at this time, the fetus must be discarded.
- Halve horizontally into upper and lower parts. Of course, it can be cut lengthwise into two halves, but experts say that in this case the excavation process is more difficult.
- Scrape a spoonful of seeds into a jar or other container and sign the variety. It is better to choose dishes of small diameter so that it can be covered with gauze in the future.
How to collect tomato seeds we examined. Now let's figure out what to do with them next.
Fermentation
The jar with the seeds obtained is left for several days in a place where the air temperature does not drop below 20 degrees. Usually 2-4 days are enough for the fermentation process. You can pour a little water into the container. The dishes need to be covered with gauze, not a lid: in this case, the seeds will be provided with air access.
Fermentation is completed if mold or bubbles appear on the surface. Seeds sink to the bottom of the container, and mold remains at the top. It is not recommended to leave seeds for a long time, as they can germinate.
How to harvest tomato seeds
Harvesting seeds involves cleaning the seeds, drying them and packing them in sachets. After the fermentation process, dirty water is drained, clean water is poured and drained again. Then pour a glass of water, in which 0.5 tsp is dissolved. salt. Floated seeds should be discarded, and the remaining seeds should be washed in a colander under running water.
Dry the seeds on a cling film or saucer, shaking occasionally. The temperature in the room should not be lower than 22 degrees, it is not recommended to heat with heat sources.
We figured out the question: "How to collect tomato seeds?" Finally, I want to say that they need to be stored in a cool, dry place in envelopes or paper bags that allow air to pass through. Since the seeds retain their germination for no more than four years, then in addition to the variety, the date of collection is written on the packaging.