Can You Harvest Seeds From Store-bought Tomatoes? (2024)

Ill.: pure-flavor.com,Dictionary.com&brooklynfarmgirl.com, montage: laidbackgardener.blog

Question:Can I collect seeds from the tomatoes I buy in the supermarket and use them to grow my own tomatoes?

Thomas Ng

Answer:Yes, you can, but it might not be the best idea.

Most tomatoes grown in supermarkets are F1 (first filial) hybrids, that is, are developed from a controlled cross between two different tomato lines. This is done because such hybrids often combine a host of desirable traits—better disease-resistance, faster growth, better shelf life, more even ripening, etc.—, plus they also have “hybrid vigor,” sort of a special mysterious and never fully explained shot of productivity that comes from crossing two unrelated strains. However, tomatoes grown from seed collected from an F1 hybrid (the supermarket tomato) result from the tomato flower crossing with itself and will be F2 (2^ndfilial or second generation) hybrids, showing a variable mix of traits—and not necessarily the best ones!—from the two parent lines and will no longer demonstrate hybrid vigor. Indeed, the resulting fruits can come in all shapes, sizes, colors and tastes.

Also, supermarket tomatoes were developed for good shelf life (that’s good) and the ability to travel well … not so desirable in a home garden tomato. Supermarket tomatoes often have a tough skin and rather hard texture, suitable to shipping long distances. That’s pretty much the opposite of the tomato you’ll probably want for your garden: a juicy, softer skinned tomato that melts in your mouth. And supermarket tomatoes are rarely chosen for their taste: in fact, many have a gene for uniform ripening that only comes at the cost of reduced taste. People have long complained that supermarket tomatoes are bland and flavorless: now you know why. I suspect you’d prefer delicious over bland.

Finally, supermarket tomatoes are usually developed for either greenhouse growing or, if purchased in winter, growing outdoors in a tropical climate not likely much like yours. So, they may not grow or mature well under your very different growing conditions.

How to Harvest Seed

So, whether you’re willing to risk sowing a regular supermarket tomato or you’ve found an heirloom tomato to start with, you’ve decided to harvest its seeds. Fine. Now you need to know how to do it. Not that it’s particularly complicated, but harvesting seed from a moist fruit like a tomato is a bit different than from a dry seed capsule like a poppy, a radish or zinnia.

You could simply scoop seeds out of the fruit, clean them roughly with a paper towel and let them air dry overnight before sowing, but you’ll get better results if you allow the gelatinous sheath surrounding the seed to decompose first. This is called fermentation. This step removes germination inhibitors, leading to faster and better germination and early growth. There is also some indication fermentation might also help prevent certain seed-borne diseases.

Here’s how to go about it.

1. Cut the tomato open.

2. You’ll see numerous seeds surrounded by pulp in the cavities of the fruit. With a spoon, scoop out enough to meet your needs.
3. Drop the seeds and pulp into a glass, jar or small bowl.
4. Add enough water to cover well.
5. You can cover the container with a cloth or paper towel to keep odors in (you did understand there would befermentation, didn’t you?) and fruit flies out.
6. Place the container in a warm spot where fermentation will occur.

7. Over the next few days, probably about 3 to 5, the pulp will start to decompose and the seeds will begin to separate out, sinking to the bottom. Solids will rise and brown or white mold with a slightly unpleasant odor will form on the top. In between there’ll layer of watery, translucent liquid.

8. When the mold pretty much covers the surface, the seeds will be ready. Remove the mold with a fork.
9. Add water and stir or shake, then let settle for a few minutes.
10. The good seeds will sink to the bottom, so you can then carefully pour off the excess liquids and solids on top. (They can go into the compost pile.)

11. Pour the seeds into a colander and rinse with running water to clean them.Carefully rub the seeds against the mesh to remove any sticky remnants orremove any bits of pulp or mold by hand.

12. Spread the seeds on a smooth surface – a plate, wax paper, a tray, etc. – so they can dry and set in a warm, dry spot.
13. Shuffle the seeds lightly with your fingers every day so they can dry evenly and to keep them from clumping together.
14. When they’re thoroughly dry, you can store the seeds in a paper envelope or a pill bottle until it’s time to sow them. They’ll keep for 3 to 4 years, even more if you keep them cool.

Sowing Tomato Seeds

When it comes to actually sowing your supermarket tomato seeds, first make sure it is the right time of the year (the number one error beginning gardeners make with growing tomatoes from seed is starting them too early!), usually 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date in your area, then follow the steps in the articleGrow your own tomatoes from seed: a guide forbeginners.

So, can you harvest seeds from store-bought tomatoes? Sure. Should you? Well, that’s up to you to decide, but personally, I prefer to know the tomato varieties I sow, so I always start with purchased or exchanged seed from a reliable source that offers a complete description.