Most everyone who knows me knows I am on my seventh generation of tulsi seed. For most herbs, I use the flower method from above. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
I also love to save hyacinth bean vine seed, mainly because the vine can grow six to eight feet in one season and because the seeds remind me of Oreos. Allow the beans to dry on the plant, then pluck the beans, open them up, and retrieve your cookies.
But tomatoes, how do I save tomato seed? First, let me explain why I am interested in this topic. I have had tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) on my tomatoes for the past few years. I know: 1) to plant resistant varieties, and 2) to not plant non-resistant varieties in the same garden location each year. I grow a lot of tomatoes and there is only so much room in my garden to rotate crops.
I love doing experiments. In fact, most of my yard is an ongoing experiment. When I neglected to weed my garden in June, I ended up with tomato volunteers from last year’s compost. You would think these plants would be infected with TSWV like all the others, but so far they are not. And, I don’t remember planting TSWV-resistant varieties last year.
So, my bright idea? Collect the seeds from this year’s volunteer tomatoes to test how they fare against that nasty virus next year.
After reading the University of Minnesota Extension article, saving tomato seeds is easy, but a little messy: https://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/vegetables/saving-vegetable-seeds/. Scoop out the seeds and gel from the inside of a tomato fully ripened on the vine. Place this mixture into a glass jar with some water. Stir it twice a day. Within five days, the mixture will ferment and the seeds will sink to the bottom. Pour out the liquid, rinse the seeds and spread them out on paper towels to dry. Store the seeds in a sealed glass container in the refrigerator.
Be aware that what you save may not be what you get next year. Yes, it will be a tomato, but there’s a difference between saving seed from open-pollinated and hybrid plants. For more information, refer to the University of Minnesota link above.
If you want to know if TSWV is in your garden, look at these photos: http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/r783102211.html
To find TSWV resistant tomato seed, you can search seed catalogs or look for university trials, such as this one from Louisiana State University: http://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/lawn_garden/commercial_horticulture/vegetables/resultsofthe2013tswvresistanttomatovarietytrial
Kelley Rawlsky has an M.S. in horticulture and is the director of Bringing People and Plants Together, an organization dedicated to bringing horticulture education and therapy to the community. For more information: PeopleAndPlantsTogether@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook.
But tomatoes, how do I save tomato seed? First, let me explain why I am interested in this topic. I have had tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) on my tomatoes for the past few years. I know: 1) to plant resistant varieties, and 2) to not plant non-resistant varieties in the same garden location each year. I grow a lot of tomatoes and there is only so much room in my garden to rotate crops.
I love doing experiments. In fact, most of my yard is an ongoing experiment. When I neglected to weed my garden in June, I ended up with tomato volunteers from last year’s compost. You would think these plants would be infected with TSWV like all the others, but so far they are not. And, I don’t remember planting TSWV-resistant varieties last year.
So, my bright idea? Collect the seeds from this year’s volunteer tomatoes to test how they fare against that nasty virus next year.
After reading the University of Minnesota Extension article, saving tomato seeds is easy, but a little messy: https://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/vegetables/saving-vegetable-seeds/. Scoop out the seeds and gel from the inside of a tomato fully ripened on the vine. Place this mixture into a glass jar with some water. Stir it twice a day. Within five days, the mixture will ferment and the seeds will sink to the bottom. Pour out the liquid, rinse the seeds and spread them out on paper towels to dry. Store the seeds in a sealed glass container in the refrigerator.
Be aware that what you save may not be what you get next year. Yes, it will be a tomato, but there’s a difference between saving seed from open-pollinated and hybrid plants. For more information, refer to the University of Minnesota link above.
If you want to know if TSWV is in your garden, look at these photos: http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/r783102211.html
To find TSWV resistant tomato seed, you can search seed catalogs or look for university trials, such as this one from Louisiana State University: http://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/lawn_garden/commercial_horticulture/vegetables/resultsofthe2013tswvresistanttomatovarietytrial
Kelley Rawlsky has an M.S. in horticulture and is the director of Bringing People and Plants Together, an organization dedicated to bringing horticulture education and therapy to the community. For more information: PeopleAndPlantsTogether@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook.
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