Sunday, August 24, 2014

How to Collect Seeds from Fleshy Fruits and Vegetables


Are you interested in learning how to collect seeds from fleshy fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers?  Perhaps you have some heirloom tomatoes you'd like to grow next year from this year's crop.  Here's how you do it:

1.  Scoop out the insides of the vegetable and leave in a container to ferment.

2.  In three to five days, a mold will have formed over it.  This is fine.  It encourages germination.

3.  Scoop the mold off with a spoon and then add water to the container and swish around.

4.  Some seeds will float, others will sink.  Keep the ones that sink.

5.  Rinse and dry on a tray out of direct sunlight.

6.  When dry, store in a labelled envelope.  Include date on the envelope.

7.  Seeds should be stored in a cool, dark place.  They are viable for about three years, but it's better if they are used the following season.

8 comments:

  1. I'm interested in how to get the suckers to grow in the first place! Wish we could do better with a garden.

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    1. Maybe try using potting soil when you plant things. That'll give them a good boost.

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  2. I'm with Alex. Guess I'll let the grocery store do all of the work. Keeps 'em in business - ha!

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    1. It does. But it is nice to be able to grow your own.

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  3. Hi Sherry - I've never known how to collect fleshy fruit seeds ... not sure I'll do it as I don't have a garden right now .. but you never know - it seems so simple! Cheers Hilary

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  4. Oh wow, this is really helpful. I'm going to give it a go.

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    Replies
    1. I figured a lot of people probably don't know how to collect seeds from fleshy fruits. Glad it helped.

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