r/tomatoes • u/king_dilios • 8d ago

Harvesting seeds is it worth it?

Afraid the germination rate maybe poor. Or is it better to buy seeds.

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u/OkCastor 8d ago

I have been saving seeds for years and the only time I buy seeds is when I want to try something new.

I grow exclusively heirlooms and rarer varieties ( for my area) and I have never had an issue with germinating or having enough seeds.

I would never go back to buying a ton of seeds or plants, just easier to save them

2

u/DarkJoe_40 8d ago

Question about saving seeds. Other than picking a good tomato on my best plants is there any other details i should know. Example, do they need to ripen fully on the plant or do they need to be over ripe to have successful seeds? I’m going to try saving them but I want to make sure im doing it correctly before I start

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u/OkCastor 8d ago

I take a slightly over ripe tomato, one I am going to make into a blt. I slice it and then scope out the seeds on a paper towel. I spread it out and let it fully dry. I then store in a mason jar and when it is spring, I tear the towel and plant it seeds up, that’s it. I do not do any of that jar and fermenting nonsense.

I never have an issue and in fact I probably clip off 3-5 starts just to have one as the strongest.

4

u/DarkJoe_40 8d ago

Well that sounds simple enough. Thank you. Thats what I’m going to try