saving tomatoe seeds and hardening off

[minibreadstick]

Hi

I just read about saving tomato seeds and it said to store on coffee filter paper but I don't drink coffee so what else could I use?

Also, to help me think about whether to grow from seed next year at all- is there a simpler process of hardening off then taking the plants out and in every day as that sounds like a lot of faff! Ill probably just buy plants ready to go out if that's the only way. ..

Thank you!

[Talkinpeace]

buy fresh clean seed from somebody like Tuckers - much easier

[minibreadstick]

Thanks. I read what to do and it sounded v easy though. ..Only obstacle I saw was the filter paper- and whether I want to grow from seed at all (hence my other question)

[Talkinpeace]

tomatoes from seed are easy

• coffee filter papers - any supermarket

I do mine in placcy bags in my conservatory, then move them out to the poly tunnel bit by bit
from seed means you get unusual varieties
seed from shop bought ones may not come true as they will most likely be F1

[Herisson]

Sturdy kitchen roll would do just as well as coffee filters, but I'd agree with what Talkinpeace said about not breeding true.

[shobby]

I grow about 50 different varieties of tomatoes every year and always save seeds of my favourites. Older varieties come true from seed, but I have had great success with modern supermarket varieties as well so it is worth a go!

I use a few really ripe tomatoes, squeeze out the pips into shallow plastic tubs and add a bit of water, and leave them to ferment for three days (no more). They will go mouldy but this helps break down the jelly coating each seed that otherwise inhibits germination. After three days I wash the seeds in a sieve under running water then slap them on a bit of thick kitchen roll where they dry out for a couple of weeks, then into little plastic bags they go to store in a cool dark place (I have a little filing cabinet with silica gel sachets to absorb any moisture). Sound fiddly but it doesn't take long to do and saves you £!

[Talkinpeace]

Ooh, what are your favourites shobby
I like Black Russian, Tigrella and Golden Sunrise
but always ready for new ideas

[shobby]

Ooh difficult, I try a few new (to me) every year but my current favourites include Porter, Piccola Dattero Ibrido (a baby plum type) Country Taste, Sugary, Tigerella,Scarlet Knight and Kenilworth. Just been doing some seed saving this afternoon, I have to do 7 at a time, limited windowsill room!

[Talkinpeace]

can you still get seed for Marmande - other than through the HDRA?

[bumperella]

Marmande seed still available, I think DT Brown do it (or Marshalls?).

[Showtime]

Thanks shobby, for sharing your seed preparation.
I've been letting mine dry out then rubbing off the dried goo, which is rather fiddly, but kitchen towel is fine and cheaper than coffee filters. My first saved seeds, from a friend, were Gardeners' Delight, difficult to find in packets at that time, and have reverted to these as always true from seed.

[shobby]

I used to save my seeds like that too but found them really difficult to get off the paper, it always came away with the seeds but they still germinated ok!

I am a HDRA subscriber as well, and save seeds from the heritage varieties most years to swap so I do have quite a little collection now but am gradually narrowing it down to my favourites which I grow every year. Allotments4all does a lot of seed swaps, and if you are looking for a specific variety can usually help.

[Showtime]

HDRA! We used to be two of the six thousand members, back in the seventies, and had no idea they were still going. I still have one of the bread recipes from Cherry Hills (founder's wife), from the days before the move, and before I needed help to manage even minimal gardening, and have good memories of various experimental plantings. So pleased to know HDRA is still going.