Seed Saving - Step Two: Fermentation
In order for tomato seeds to germinate, the gelatinous sack that surrounds the seeds must be removed. The sack contains chemicals that inhibit seed germination to prevent seeds from sprouting inside the tomato’s wet environment. Fermenting tomatoes not only removes the gel sack, but also kills many seed born diseases.
Figuring that the tomatoes are as ripe as they are going to get, I picked the ones that I had bagged for isolation and set to prepping them to ferment.
The instructions in the book suggested slicing the larger tomatoes crosswise (not through the stem end) and squeezing to release the seeds and gel ~ it worked like a charm. For smaller tomatoes, they suggested mashing in a food processor, but since I was processing just a few of each variety, I just spilt them and squished like the bigger ones.
I’ve put the seeds and pulp in mason jars with a bit of water (to aid seed separation), carefully labelled them and set them in the garage. The cooler temperatures out there will no doubt slow the fermentation process, which is supposed to take one to three days, but the reported horrendous stink makes it clear that this is definitely an outside project.
Now I just wait for a layer of white/gray mold to entirely cover the surface, and I can move on to the next step … hmmmm, intentionally growing mold? I’m starting to question the wisdom of this little project of mine already :p
Seeds saved – Black Krim, Black Cherry, Pink Ping Pong, Yellow Ping Pong
Photos
- Black Krim sliced to get at the seeds.
- Black Krim pulp.
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This entry is about Ceae's 
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Nax wrote:
Learn something new everyday.
Posted on 09 Oct 08 (about 1 months ago)
Verthandei wrote:
:) I just fermented some black krim seeds last week. They are drying on a plate right now. I only did one small tomato, and thought there were surprisingly few seeds, but even so I still got about 70 seeds. Hopefully at least one or two of them are viable!
Posted on 09 Oct 08 (about 1 months ago)
Netto wrote:
Really interesting! Do you think this wouldn’t happen so efficiently if you planted them directly in the soil? Does it improve germination rate? Can’t wait to hear what happens to your horrendously stinky intentionally grown mold! :)
Posted on 09 Oct 08 (about 1 months ago)
Ceae wrote:
If you just plucked the seeds out of the tomato, rinsed them and off and planted them, they would not germinate – according to the experts, anyway!
Now, if you leave a tomato in the garden, as the flesh rots, the natural fermentation process will destroy the gel coating, allowing the inhibiting chemical to be washed away. The seeds would be left in the dirt and sprout when the right conditions occurred. (volunteers!)
Here’s an interesting thought – the easy way to seed your garden might be to plant a tomato in the right spot in the fall, rather than a seedling in the spring :D When conducive weather arrived, you’d probably have a handful of little seedlings popping up!!!
As for the stink, I think the garage is just too cold, it’s like a refrigerator in there! I’m going to bring the jars back in to the house, or maybe outside if it EVER stops raining, until they at least start to ferment … then I’ll put them back out.
Posted on 10 Oct 08 (about 1 months ago)