How to Save Tomato Seeds For Planting – No Ferment Method
Saving tomato seeds for planting next year is incredibly easy! Some guides strongly encourage using a fermentation process for saving your own tomato seeds. While fermenting can improve seed germination rate, you can save plenty of viable seeds without using a fermentation method. This post tells you how to save tomato seeds for planting – No Ferment Method!
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Save Tomato Seeds – No ferment Method
I love saving my own seeds for next season’s planting time. In my experience, the best way to save seeds is the one with the fewest steps.  Summertime is a very busy season around our homestead. Between overseeing the garden, canning/preserving food for the fall and winter months, and day-to-day baking and cooking, I have more than enough to keep me busy.  The last thing I need is a complex seed-saving method. Â
My favorite kind of project is one I can start and then forget about for a few days without having to worry about the project going awry. The last thing I want to find is a layer of mold growing in the top of the jar on my kitchen countertop because I tried fermenting heirloom tomato seeds. This is why I prefer saving tomato seeds without a fermentation step.
Why I Love the No Ferment Method
As I mentioned above, skipping the fermenting step may lend to a slightly lower seed germination rate, but that’s not something I’m concerned about. Â I mean, most individual tomatoes come with more seeds inside a single fruit than you’d need to plant your entire tomato crop next year. Â So, it’s not like saving a few extra seeds is all that difficult. Â It’s easy to scrape the tomato pulp out of a few ripe tomatoes and place them on a paper towel or coffee filter. Then, leave them in a warm place and forget about them for a few days while they dry. This much easier than dealing with a more delicate fermentation process.
Supplies You Might Need
- Your favorite heirloom tomatoes*** NOT hybrid varieties
- bamboo cutting board
- sharp knife
- paper envelopes
- paper towel, coffee filter, parchment paper, or paper plate
***Heirloom tomato varieties are the best tomatoes to use for saving seeds.  Using seeds from hybrid tomatoes is likely to yield a different tomato variety than parent tomato plants.  If you are looking to buy heirloom tomato seeds to plant next spring so that you can then start saving your own heirloom seeds from later, I have used and highly recommend Seeds for Generations Amish Paste Tomatoes. Â
How to Save Tomato Seeds for planting – No Ferment Method
The best time to save new seeds is any time you get a good, healthy-looking tomato. This might be in near the beginning of tomato season, or at the end. There’s no set timeline. But starting with a healthy parent tomato is the easiest way to ensure you get the best seeds for planting.
The first step is to wash and dry the parent tomato. Â Place the tomato on a clean bamboo cutting board and slice in half. Â The next step is to scoop out the tomato pump using either your thumb or a spoon. Â My favorite tomatoes to save my own seeds from are heirloom Amish Paste and Better Boy. Â Some seed cavities – like Amish Paste – may be easier to scoop out using your thumb as opposed to a spoon. Â But there’s no wrong way to collect seeds from tomatoes to save for next season.
Once you’ve scooped out the seeds, it’s time to transfer them to a paper towel, coffee filter, piece of parchment, or paper plate. I like to use unbleached coffee filters. The paper towel method or coffee filter method of seed saving works well because you can plant the paper towel or coffee filter along with the seeds. After you have collected the tomato seeds and spread them evenly on your coffee filter, paper towel, parchment paper, or paper plate, place them in a warm, dry place, out of direct sunlight.
After you have collected the tomato seeds and spread them evenly on your coffee filter, paper towel, parchment paper, or paper plate, it’s time to place them in a warm, dry place for a few days. It’s important that your seeds are completely dry before placing in long-term storage for next planting season. The drying process and timeline may vary slightly depending on a number of variables like room temperature or air circulation in your seed drying space. As a general rule, it takes a few days for the heirloom tomato seeds to fully dry.
How to Store Dried Seeds
After a few days, your newly dried seeds should be ready for storage. Â My favorite way to store the seeds in little paper seed envelopes. Â Simply cut the coffee filter with the dried seeds into small pieces and then place them inside paper seed envelopes and store in a cool, dark place until next spring. Â
If you’re concerned about excess moisture damaging your dry seeds during storage, you can place the seed envelopes in a glass jar with lid or sealed plastic bag. Â
