Allotments 4 All

Did I read somewhere that saved seed should be dried before sowing?

If so, why?

You dry seed to stop it going bad if you you are going to save it.but would it matter if you sowed it fresh after being collected it. :-\

On a tomato thread  it was said- dry well for storing but if the time was right sow fresh.

Aha! - thanks.

QuoteOn a tomato thread  it was said- dry well for storing but if the time was right sow fresh.

I have gone a different route with my saved tomato seeds this year.

Usually I just spread them out on a piece of kitchen towel (gunge and all) but what tends to happen is they stick to the paper so I have to sow paper as well.

This year or should I say last year?  taken from a tip I think I read here (yes I pick up tips as well  ::)  ) I washed them first and dried them in the sun.

This meant saving them a bit earlier( i.e. to take advantage of the sun) all I can say is; they are all loose in the packet just like commercial seed.

So its fingers crossed that they are still viable and only time will tell.

Do you go through the fermentation bit first?

e.g.http://www.vegetable-gardens.co.uk/guides/tomato_seed_saving.htm

I have gone a different route with my saved tomato seeds this year.

Usually I just spread them out on a piece of kitchen towel (gunge and all) but what tends to happen is they stick to the paper so I have to sow paper as well.

I have been doing it for years TEE GEE it works a treat. Seeds already spaced out, paper towel cut to the size of my tray, no fidling and dropping seeds. A great time saver when it comes to planting.

QuoteA great time saver when it comes to planting.

I agree with you davy but I thought I would just try something new I still have some stuck to kitchen paper from previous years if the new method fails.

I'm all for easy handling hence my tweezers as seen in some of my slide shows.

I often think I have my ten fingers on one hand such is my clumsyness  :-\

Quote from: Barnowl on February 28, 2008, 14:51:04
Do you go through the fermentation bit first?

e.g.http://www.vegetable-gardens.co.uk/guides/tomato_seed_saving.htm

I dont, i just cut the Tomato up and drop the seed into a Tea strainer have a good poke round with my finger getting rid of as much of the tomato as possible put them onto some news paper then pick out the largest of the seads, put them onto paper towel spaced out as i want them to germinate, let them dry out and them into a marked envelope.

I  think  You may find the substance like gel around the tom seed is a growth, germination inhibitor ,Thats the reason for formenting or washing and drying them before sowing ...To make sure you have got rid of it ..I use a tea strainer too  :)

Given that my greehouse comes up like a tomato seedling lawn every year I'm contemplating squishing a tomato onto a compost filled tray and leaving it over-winter in the greenhouse next year. Watering come February should then do the trick.

Quote from: growmore on February 28, 2008, 18:58:41
I  think  You may find the substance like gel around the tom seed is a growth, germination inhibitor ,Thats the reason for formenting or washing and drying them before sowing ...To make sure you have got rid of it ..I use a tea strainer too  :)

It also gets rid of bad seeds and other bad things. 

One other point - wouldn't saving seed from your first tomato of the year mean that you were selecting seeds that will (eventually) crop earlier in future?

I dont throw the other seed, they are dried and put into envelopes in case Murphy,s Law appears and kept as reserves or give aways.

Some seeds will only germinate when fresh, or can be delayed for a year or so if they're dtied. So don't try seed unless you're storing it. I have some Taxi seed which came from one plant which was significantly early than the others' it'll be interesting to see if I can breed and early strain. But it certainly can't do any harm to select from the first plant to produce fruit. Don't bother with the first to flower; it won't necessarily be the first with ripe fruit.