Saving my mini tomato seeds

Two days after my mini tomato started turning colour, it was fully ripened on the plant.

My mini tomato ripen on plant

After a quick clean and polish with a kitchen paper towel, it was ready for a photo shoot! LOL

A portrait of my pretty mini tomato!

This second mini tomato of mine didn't have much seeds inside for saving. It had only a dozen or so seeds whilst my first one had about 50! So, I will use photos of my first mini tomato to document the seeds saving method I used instead:

1. Cut tomato in half and scoop out seeds with a spoon into a glass/cup.

Nice & juicy!

2. Add enough tap water into the glass to cover the seeds.

Then cover the top of the glass with cling wrap. 

Place the glass in a warm spot for 2 to 3 days. 

Swirl the glass of water once or twice daily. 

Apparently, the fermentation process on the

seeds will prevent seed-borne disease.

Fresh seeds in tap water

3. Once the water gets a bit moldy, pour out the

murky layer but be careful not to pour away the

seeds too. Drain seeds into a fine-mesh sieve.

 

Fermented seeds after 4 days in tap water

 4. Rinse the seeds in the sieve with cold tap water and use your

fingers to remove any pulp that is still stuck onto the seeds.

5. Spread seeds in a single layer on a paper plate and air dried 

it for a week until they are free to rattle around the plate.

(I used a kitchen paper towel & they got a bit stuck onto

the paper towel as they dried)

Air dried seeds on paper towel ready for storage

6. Place dried seeds into a jar or paper envelope,

label and store in a cool dry place.

I am now waiting patiently for August to arrive as I read that it is a good time to start seeds indoors for (the southern hemisphere's) Spring! I hope the seeds I saved would germinate!