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Can I save seeds from my tomatoes from next season's plantings, and if so, how?

Last Updated: May 04, 2011

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You can save seed from tomatoes if the variety is not a hybrid. Hybrid tomatoes do not come true from seed. The plants and fruit from seed saved from your home garden may or may not resemble the parent. Chances are the fruit will be poorer quality and the vine characteristics will not be the same as the parent plant.

However, for true breeding varieties, such as Homestead, it is easy to save seed. To save seed from tomatoes or any other home vegetable fruit crop, leave the fruit on the plant until it is mature, pull it, squeeze juice with seed into a glass, and let this ferment for two days, adding water if needed. Rinse the seeds two or three times to remove debris. Seeds will settle to the bottom. After rinsing the seeds, blot them and place in the sun to dry. Store the seeds under cool, dry conditions.

Browse related Faqs by tag: horticulture, tomato, hybrid, vegetables and herbs, seed saving


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