How to Grow Tomatoes with Seeds

Buy seeds or use seeds in tomatoes. You can buy seeds online at seed exchanges, at nurseries or from gardeners. You can also buy seeds from the gardening section of the supermarket. If you want to get a seed from a plant, you need at least one fruit from that tomato plant. Make sure to get fruit from tomato plants grown with purebred seeds or naturally pollinated seeds. If you choose tomatoes from hybrids or plants grown from seeds that have been chemically treated, the results may not be as satisfactory. Tomatoes can be classified according to:

• Purebred or hybrid tomato: A purebred tomato is a tomato that has been inherited for many generations without cross-pollination. In essence, they are purebred tomato varieties. A hybrid tomato is a hybrid between two varieties.
• Finite or Infinite Growth: This is a classification method based on the length of time the tree bears fruit. Finite trees bear fruit in a matter of weeks, while indeterminate trees bear fruit all season long until the climate becomes too cold. Infinitely growing plants also grow larger and require more care with pruning and supporting stakes.
• Shape: Tomatoes are also classified into four types based on shape: globe tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, paste tomatoes and cherry tomatoes. The globe tomato has the most common shape, the beefsteak tomato is the largest, the tomato paste is often used in sauces, and the cherry tomatoes are small, medium-sized and often used in salads. ^[1]

Cut a tomato in half and scoop out the flesh inside into a plastic container. You need a container with a loose lid to store the tomato flesh and seeds for a few days. There will be a layer of mold growing on the tomato seeds. This process eliminates many seed diseases that can affect future tomato plants.

Label the container. If you’re fermenting different types of tomatoes, be sure to put a tomato variety label on the containers to avoid mixing the varieties. Close the lid slightly, remember not to close it tightly so that oxygen can get inside.

Place the box in a warm place but out of direct sunlight. Fermentation of the grain looks pretty nasty and smells bad, so it’s a good idea to keep it in a hidden place like under the sink or in the garage (as long as it’s warm).

Toss the tomato seeds every day until a layer of white mold appears on the surface. Usually it takes about 2-3 days for mold to form. Remember to harvest the seeds as soon as mold forms to prevent them from germinating in the box.

Harvest seeds. Wearing gloves, scrape off the mold. Tomato seeds will sink to the bottom of the box.

Pour water into the can to dilute the mixture. Allow the seeds to settle to the bottom and strain the liquid through a sieve. Be careful not to let the seeds drift. Rinse the tomato seeds thoroughly with water after the seeds are collected in the sieve.

Spread the tomato seeds on a non-stick surface and let it dry for a few days. Ceramic or glass flat plates, baking paper, pieces of plywood or window screens all work. If you spread the seeds on paper or cloth, they will be very difficult to remove when the seeds are dry. Once the seeds are dry, you can store them in an airtight plastic bag until ready to plant. Remember to label each nut.

Store seeds in a cool and dark place. You can also store the seeds in an airtight container and refrigerate them to simulate winter, but don’t put them in the freezer to avoid damaging them.