How to Grow

From seed

Choose sunny spot in the garden with well-drained soil and enrich with fertilizer.

Add liquid lime & dolomite to help sweeten the soil and prevent blossom.

Sow seeds lightly cover seed raising mix and water well.

Put stakes in the ground for support.

Follow seedling instructions.

From seedling

Plant seedlings so that the bottom few centimetres of tomato stems are covered with soil.

Water in well.

As larger tomatoes grow, tie them to the stakes with a plant tie, ribbon, or piece of old hosiery.

In a pot

Choose a pot at least 40cm wide and deep and position in full fun.

Potted planted dry out quicker than in-ground plants, so it is important to keep potted plants watered.

Follow seed->seedling->harvest guide.

Ready to harvest

Harvest tomatoes when the fruit is plump and red (or yellow, orange of purple depending on the variety)

Collect seed

Collect tomato seeds at the end of the season when the fruit is ripe and ready.

Some gardeners simply cut open the tomato and squeeze the pulp onto a plate or other container.

The pulp needs to dry and then you can separate out the seeds.

Another method is to rinse off the pulp in a colander or screen.

Still another method of saving seeds from tomatoes requires the pulp to be put in a glass jar filled with water.

You can shake it and let it soak for five days.

Skim off the foamy fermented pulp and the seeds will be at the bottom of the jar.

The most important part of the process of harvesting tomato seeds is the drying.

If the seeds aren’t properly dried, they will mold and then all your work will be fruitless.

Spread the seed out on paper towels to absorb any moisture in a warm dry location.

Store the seeds until spring in a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Seeds need to be stored where it is dark to prevent stimulating their photoreceptors, which tell them when it is time to germinate.

They may lose vigor or fail to sprout if they are exposed to light.