How to choose tomato seeds - what needs to be taken into account and how not to be left without a harvest?

Author: Tatyana O. https://floristics.info/ru/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=16 Category: Garden plants Published: December 24, 2021Last edits: December 24, 2021

Each owner of a summer cottage and personal plot annually thinks about what varieties of tomatoes to grow for food and for canning next season.

In a store or at a garden center, you may be captivated by a beautiful picture and advertisement on a packet of seeds: a super-yielding, super-tasty or super-sweet variety. But by the end of the season you may be disappointed because you do not get the expected result. Because you need to choose a variety based on other criteria.

Zoning

The most important criterion when choosing a tomato variety is regionalization. You want tomatoes that were bred in your region or in an area with similar climate conditions.

If you live in the northern region and plant tomatoes zoned for the southern climate, you will not get the yield and sustainability stated in the characteristics, because the variety was bred for growing in other conditions. Southern varieties are distinguished by greater foliage, which protects the fruits from the hot sun, and can have an extended fruiting period, because they are designed for long, warm summers.

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Northern tomatoes have less foliage because in cool climates the fruits do not require protection from heat and bright sun. And their growing season is not so long, since the northern summer is shorter than the southern one.

Criterias of choice

Of course, everyone wants a tomato to be resistant to diseases and pests, high-yielding, and tasty.

High yield

Breeders have achieved high yields from medium-sized round tomatoes. The Joker F1 tomato produces a good harvest.

Taste qualities

Here, of course, everyone decides for themselves what the fruits should be like in terms of sweetness, meatiness, and juiciness. Many of these characteristics are indicated on the seed packaging. Thus, the fruits of the Mariana F1 tomato are considered the sweetest.

Zoning

This criterion shows whether the tomato is suitable for growing in the climatic and other conditions of a certain area. If you grow exotic tomatoes, their yield will be lower than that stated by the manufacturer.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Both the yield of a tomato and the duration of its storage largely depend on resistance to diseases and pests. For example, the Pavlina tomato is resistant to the tobacco mosaic virus, fusarium, and cladosporiosis; the Pokus tomato and raspberry Ozharovsky tomato are resistant to late blight.

Such criteria can be considered general. There are also more accurate ones.

Ripening period

According to the ripening period, tomatoes are:

• ultra-early and early - from 75 to 105 days;
• mid-season - 110-120 days;
• late ripening - 130-140 days.

Collecting seeds for planting

There are varieties of tomatoes, and there are hybrids. The latter have F1 on the packaging, which means first generation. Only varieties are suitable for further breeding. They retain their characteristics in subsequent generations.

This is not typical for hybrids. Therefore, it makes no sense to collect hybrid seeds for planting next year, since it is not known in advance what qualities a tomato grown from such seeds will have.

Purpose

An equally important criterion is the purpose of tomatoes: for salads, canning, storage.

Salad varieties, as a rule, include varieties with large, fleshy and juicy fruits. These include the famous salad variety - Marfa F1.

Small tomatoes with dense flesh and strong skin are suitable for canning. For example, the Cherry Blossom hybrid.

Late-ripening varieties with small fruits are well stored.

Place of cultivation

The place where the tomatoes will grow can be a greenhouse, open ground or balcony. This criterion is very important when choosing tomato seeds, so let’s consider it in more detail.

Greenhouse and ground tomatoes

When purchasing seeds, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding the purpose of the variety: it is intended for cultivation in a greenhouse or in open ground. If the variety is recommended for greenhouses, and you plant it in the garden, then even the sweetest, most productive and disease-resistant tomatoes may not show their wonderful qualities.

In addition, tall varieties, the so-called indeterminate varieties, which are capable of producing maximum yield in a small area, are usually recommended for greenhouses. In open ground, it is more convenient to grow short and medium-sized tomatoes, that is, superdeterminate and determinate. They are easier to care for, easier to tie up, and you can grow them spread out, placing straw under the bushes.

Classification of tomatoes by height

Tomatoes are not only low- or tall-growing; according to their “growth” they are divided into 5 groups:

Let's explain the features of each of them.

Indeterminate tomatoes

Tomatoes of indeterminate varieties are the tallest of all their “brothers”. Their growth is practically unlimited - the main stem can reach 2.5 m (or even 3 m!) in length. In the absence of formation, the bushes of such tomatoes can form real impenetrable jungles.

This is both good and bad at the same time. On the one hand, the impressive size of the bush means that this tomato grows quite slowly and brings the first harvest on average 30-40 days later. That is why it is unlikely to be possible to grow indeterminate tomatoes in open ground in the middle zone. On the other hand, new generative buds are constantly being laid on such shoots: the fruits ripen gradually, and there can be up to 40-50 clusters on one bush.

It is easy to understand why tomatoes of the indeterminate group are most often planted for commercial purposes.

Such tomatoes require serious shaping: it is necessary to remove all the stepsons so as not to allow them to draw nutrients onto themselves. In greenhouses, they are best formed vertically around support posts. This way the tomato bed will be compact.

Popular hybrid varieties of indeterminate tomatoes: Andreevsky Surprise, Grandma's Secret, Budenovka, Bull's Heart, Ox's Heart, Giant Raspberry, Michel F1, Pink Magic F1, Chernomor.

Superdeterminate tomatoes

Superdeterminate tomatoes produce a low, compact bush with 2-3 inflorescences on the main and side shoots. The development of the vegetative part of the plant does not require much time, the ovaries begin to form early, so these tomatoes are the fastest ripening and produce their harvest in unison.

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The second wave of flowering begins after the tomatoes ripen on the first bunches. As a rule, superdeterminate tomatoes do not need pinching at all. These tomatoes are ideal for those who want to get a harvest quickly and without any hassle.

The following varieties and hybrids can be classified as super-determinate tomatoes: Alaska, White Naliv, Betalux, Children's Sweetness, Pink Andromeda F1, Sanka.

Determinate tomatoes

The growth of these tomatoes is limited to 4-6 bunches. The bush of this variety will be slightly larger in size than that of superdeterminate tomatoes. The second wave of flowering begins with the formation of fruits on the first ovaries.

The fruits of this group of tomatoes ripen 5-7 days later than those of superdeterminant tomatoes - they belong to mid-ripening tomatoes. Their yield and duration of fruiting are higher than those of early varieties.

Determinate tomatoes usually need pinching and staking. They can be grown in open ground.

Popular varieties and hybrids of determinate tomatoes: Aurora F1, Amurskaya Zarya, Ladies' Man, Oak, Golden Heart, King of the Early, Sakhalin, Siberian Early.

Semi-determinate tomatoes

Semi-determinate are late-ripening, tall tomatoes. They develop inflorescences every 2-3 leaves. The fruits ripen uniformly and evenly throughout the growing season.

These tomatoes have a powerful, well-branched root system: some roots penetrate to a depth of 1.5 m, although most are still located close to the surface of the ground.

In the middle zone, semi-determinate tomatoes are best grown in greenhouses, forming a bush on two stems.

Popular hybrids of semi-determinate tomatoes: Gamayun F1, Gravity F1, Ivet F1, Red Arrow F1, Northern Express F1.

Standard tomatoes

Plants of this group of varieties can be called tomatoes “for the lazy.” They form a compact bush on a thick short stem and do not require pinching or shaping.

Their leaves are located closer to each other, the ovaries are more compactly “scattered” along the stem, therefore, with a relatively small size, the bush gives a good harvest.

Standard tomatoes are planted according to a 100x50 cm pattern, since the feeding area required for each bush is about 0.5 sq.m.

Standard tomatoes include the following varieties and hybrids: Snow White, Riddle, Kalinka-Malinka, Moskvich, Edelrot, Hartzfeuer F1.

Purpose of the variety

Try to choose varieties that are different in purpose. There are salad-type tomatoes - large, fleshy tomatoes of different shapes and different colors, which are intended for fresh consumption.

There are tomatoes for pickling and pickling: they are not so large and have thicker skin. They also come in different shapes: elongated (cream) and round.

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And there are universal varieties that are suitable for pickling, pickling and fresh consumption, as they have excellent taste.

Yield varieties of tomatoes for the greenhouse

To get a bountiful harvest, you need to choose the right variety for the climatic zone of intended growth.

Choose a type of tomato that grows and bears fruit in a specific soil.

It is recommended to plant tomatoes first as seedlings and then transplant them into greenhouses. The yield is better, so take these facts into account at the initial stage of work. To select different types of tomatoes, the gardener needs to know which classification to choose. Some people prefer tomatoes for preparing fresh dishes, while others prefer them for canning.

Depending on the characteristics of the vegetable crop, they are divided into:

• tomatoes for northern or southern climates;
• culinary purpose of tomato;
• resistance to diseases and pests;
• by harvest volume in one season;
• according to ripening period.

Each feature affects the growing process and affects the result obtained. Plant forms and hybrids differ in taste, color, and have different purposes.

Academician Sakharov

Tomatoes are classified as medium-ripe. The large-fruited species was developed by Igor Maslov. Recommended for cultivation in the central and northern parts of Russia. The tomato bush grows up to 2 meters in height and requires staking. The tomatoes are round, ribbed at the base.

When fully ripe, greenhouse tomatoes have a bright red color and weigh 250-350 grams. Productivity - 3-5 kg ​​per bush. Tomatoes have a fleshy consistency, aromatic with a bright taste. The variety is suitable for consumption both fresh and for preparing sauces, preparations, and juices.

Khlynovsky F1

Tomatoes of the Kirov selection are popular among gardeners due to their active ripening and resistance to diseases and pests. Variety Khlynovsky F1 is an early ripening, early hybrid species. Due to their growth, the bushes are tied to a support. The fruits are large, weighing up to 300 grams.

The pulp is juicy and fleshy. The fruits tolerate transportation and storage. The variety is suitable for growing for sale, as it has a marketable appearance and is suitable for fresh consumption. Khlynovsky tomatoes are productive and large-fruited. Gardeners value it for its versatility and unpretentiousness.

Craftsman

Another type of Kirov selection is a mid-ripe species and grows in a greenhouse. It has strong immunity, tolerates cold climates well and is suitable for northern and central Russia.

The fruits are red, small in shape, and belong to the cherry variety.

The bushes are neat. Each tomato weighs from 10 to 30 grams. They ripen at the same time. The fruits look impressive and beautiful, suitable for canning, making salads and juices. Thanks to the beautiful external idea, the Craftsman is grown for sale.

Admiro F1

Hybrid of Dutch selection. In temperate climates, the fruits have a stable taste, grow well and are not affected by pests. Low-growing bushes are suitable for growing in greenhouses. Plant 3-4 plants per meter.

The Admiro variety is not affected by late blight and cladosporiosis. The flesh is tender. The peel color is red-pink. The taste is good. The yield is 39 kg per meter. Admiro variety tomatoes are suitable for canning and fresh consumption.

De Barao

The variety is used for pickling. The variety tolerates cold weather, climate change and insufficient lighting well. The fruits are red, pink, black or yellow.

The weight of one fruit is 68 grams. The skin is thick, the flesh is dense. Productivity from one bush is 7-12 kg.

Growing De-barao is not difficult. Watering and fertilizing plantings according to schedule. The variety is suitable for both beginners and experienced gardeners. Resistance to pests is average.

Yellow Plum

Plum tomatoes are sweet cherry tomatoes. Fruits up to 15 grams plum-shaped. There are from 50 to 60 fruits on one cluster. They ripen evenly.

The taste is rich. Suitable for preparing salads.

You can grow Plum tomatoes both in open ground in the south of Russia and in a greenhouse in the northern regions.

Grandma's Secret

Grandma's secret refers to tall and large-fruitful tomatoes. Productivity is 17 kg per meter with proper care. The fruits are flat-round with pink or red skin. Weight reaches 600 grams.

The pulp is juicy and sweet. Babushkin Secret tomatoes are suitable for making juices, salads and canning. It is rarely affected by pests. The species is resistant to cold conditions.

Pink Flamingo F1

The variety has won the love of many gardeners. Early ripening tomato; After the first shoots, the harvest is harvested within 90-95 days. Resistant to diseases and pests.

It does not crack, which is why Pink Flamingo is grown for sale. Tolerates transportation well. The plum-shaped fruits are used for preservation; large tomatoes are used to make juice and salads.

Wonderful lady

A productive variety for growing in Siberia. Ovary occurs under unfavorable growing conditions. Up to 5-7 fruits are collected from one tomato branch. Productivity per square meter is 10 kg.

In short summer conditions, the fruits fully ripen. The skin is dense and not susceptible to cracking. The Beautiful Lady variety tolerates transportation well. Suitable for canning and preparing salads.

Samara F1

Carpal indeterminate variety for closed ground. Each cluster produces up to 8 ripe fruits. The plant is resistant to tobacco mosaic virus, fusarium and cladosporiosis.

Fruits with red and dense skin. The tomatoes do not crack, store well, and are suitable for transportation and growing for sale. Under proper conditions, Samara f1 species matures early.

Wonder of the Earth

Tomatoes are an early-ripening, tall crop. The variety is drought-resistant, so it is suitable for gardeners who cannot provide constant watering to the plants.

The fruits are large and pink. The weight of one fruit is 500 grams. Heart-shaped. Tomatoes have a sweetish taste. The miracle of the earth is suitable for preparing salads and preparations.

Banana Legs

Mid-season variety of semi-determinate type. Banana legs require moderate pinching. If you want to surprise your loved ones and friends, then try growing Banana Legs on your property.

The appearance of the plant attracts attention. The fruits are bright yellow and grow in clusters in the shape of elongated cream. The taste is pleasant, delicate with notes of citrus. Banana legs are used for canning and fresh consumption.

Sultan F1

Dutch hybrid, suitable for growing in the Moscow region. Tomatoes Sultan f1 - early ripening in short summer conditions.

The bushes are compact, ideal for closed ground. The variety produces fleshy and large fruits. Vegetables are suitable for canning, fresh consumption, and processing into ketchup, tomato paste and juice.

Tyler F1

Most gardeners consider Tyler f1 successful for growing in central Russia. Tyler f1 is a determinate hybrid species. It belongs to the category of early ripening vegetables. The root system is developed. Internodes are short, indicating excellent yield. Up to 10 tomatoes ripen on one bunch at the same time.

The fruit is dense, hard, juicy. There are no white veins in the pulp. The hybrid ripens with minimal light, which makes it attractive to those summer residents who grow vegetables for sale. Transports well. The peel does not crack.

Cio-chio-san

The greenhouse variety chio-chiosan is considered a favorite among many gardeners. The plant is determinant, therefore it bears fruit throughout the growing season, the ripening period is early-mid. Bushes up to 2 meters high require tying to a support.

Clusters with a fan of red-pink fruits. The taste is delicate and sweet. The tomato weighs 35 grams. 4 kg of tomatoes are harvested from a bush. The variety is resistant to diseases and pests of the nightshade family. Used for preparations, juices, and fresh consumption. The downside is that it requires a lot of care and requires early tying up of bushes.

My approach to choosing varieties

I don’t have a greenhouse, so I only grow ground tomatoes, but I plant different varieties and hybrids, both in terms of ripening time and purpose. Every year I buy new varieties and see how they perform on my site. I prefer varietal tomatoes, and I have the opportunity to collect seeds from the tomatoes I like.

Why do I plant different varieties? Because the same variety manifests itself differently in different weather conditions, and if, for example, in a cold or rainy summer some varieties fail me, then others will not leave me without a harvest.

I believe that it is better to plant several plants of different varieties than to plant the entire area with one variety that may not produce any results.

My approach to choosing varieties is dictated by many years of experience. You may have a different experience, and therefore a different approach. However, those who have little or no experience will benefit from my recommendations.

• Pelargonium royal

I would like to wish everyone a successful choice of varieties for the next season and good health.

Which tomato seeds are best to buy according to reviews from gardeners

Rinat

“This year, my favorite tomato variety is Kumir, it is very tasty, productive and medium-sized. I sowed seedlings on March 20, and the first tomato ripened already on June 20, and it bore fruit for a very long time. The most successful cherry variety is Black Cherry, it is productive and incredibly tasty, my kids adore it.

I also liked the Black bunch tomato, it is very sweet. I planted the Lotto variety for the first time this year; I was pleased with its fleshy fruits, which are good both for salads and fresh.”

Natalya Blekher, Kaluga region

“In the greenhouse, the yellow tomato variety “Pepper” gave a good harvest. And the low-growing varieties “Dubok” and “Raketa” grew well in the beds and gave a good harvest. I liked the first ones the most; the bushes grew very strong. I planted very tiny seedlings under the film, but they quickly began to grow and became stronger.

The “Apple of Russia” variety also performed well, but there was practically no rain that summer.”

Tsvetik-semitsvetik, Izhevsk

“And that year I grew tomatoes with the funny names “Khokhloma” and “Chukhloma.” Tomatoes are very tasty, some of them are orange and others are red. I made juice from them, and it turned out just great. The most delicious were the orange Chukhloma tomatoes. The harvest of both these varieties was good.

Khokhloma tomatoes are elongated up to 10 centimeters in length. In Chukhloma they are shorter, but larger in diameter. Their only drawback is that the bushes are very tall, about 2.5 meters.”

Margosha, Tyumen

“Every year I plant the “Bull’s Heart” tomato on my plot, and my neighbors in the plot do the same. I'm very pleased with the result. The tomatoes are meaty, large and very tasty. I recommend them to everyone for boarding.”

Disinfection of tomato seeds

All seeds require disinfection so that future bushes do not get sick. Most of the planting material is already contaminated; for example, they get sick when the seeds are stored improperly. Hence, treat them against various infections.

To carry out disinfection, prepare the following solution:

• Take potassium permanganate.
• Prepare a 1% solution from it.
• You can replace potassium permanganate with hydrogen peroxide.
• Soak the seeds for 20 minutes.

If you use peroxide, then preheat the solution to +45°C. Place the seeds in it for 8 minutes. Then place the seeds in ordinary water and soak for 24 hours.

How to choose seeds?

You need to buy planting material only in specialized stores. If in doubt about any variety, simply consult the seller.

The packaging must contain the main characteristics of the variety. When planting tomatoes for the first time, you cannot stop at one variety; you need to take at least four, and then choose the most suitable one from them. We reviewed the best tomato seeds based on reviews, but everyone has their own opinion, experiment!

How to harden seeds and protect them from pests?

Treating seeds in potassium permanganate will protect against viruses. You need to dilute a gram of powder in a glass of water, place the seeds in cheesecloth and soak in the solution for twenty minutes, then rinse with water.

After washing, the seeds need to be hardened. In the same gauze (wet), place them in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf. In two days the material is ready for planting! Hardened seeds will give strong seedlings that will not be afraid of cold weather!

Even the best Siberian tomato seeds for greenhouses, according to gardeners, can produce a low yield when temperatures fluctuate. That is why it is strongly recommended to harden the seed.

Choosing a place to grow tomatoes

Tomatoes are heat-loving plants. They should be planted in a sunny area, protected from the wind. It is necessary to avoid stagnation of water; excess moisture provokes the development of fungal diseases. You should not place tomatoes next to potatoes. These crops have a common enemy - the Colorado potato beetle.

Tomato bed

Important! It is advisable to change the location of the tomato bed every year. The best plant predecessors are cucumbers, legumes, onions, carrots, and garlic.

Is it possible to collect tomato seeds from F1 hybrids?

Do not attempt to collect seeds from hybrid plants. They are called F1 heterotic hybrids due to the manifestation of the heterosis effect - a significant excess of all economically valuable indicators compared to the parent forms.

1. You should know that the resulting improved properties appear only in the offspring of the first generation.
2. In subsequent generations, the traits you liked so much will not appear at all or will be much less pronounced than in the previous season.
3. From the seeds collected from such plants, specimens will grow that combine both the characteristics of their parents and more ancient ancestors, which, most likely, you will not like.

How to choose tomatoes for seeds?

A summer resident needs to know which tomatoes can collect seeds from and which ones cannot. When choosing fruits, you should pay attention to the following criteria:

• Tomatoes are taken from varietal varieties. Fruits grown from hybrids, as indicated by the F1 mark on the packaging, will not produce the expected yield;
• Tomatoes must be adapted to the growing area. Varieties that are not resistant to low temperatures should not be planted in cold areas.

Fruits with high taste and characteristic features of this variety are suitable for collecting seeds. For seeds, only large and well-formed fruits are taken from the bushes.

To collect a lot of seeds that will give a good harvest of tomatoes in the future, you should adhere to the following rules:

• Tomatoes are taken only from well-formed bushes that show no signs of disease.
• Tomatoes are picked only from the first lower branches of the bush. This is explained by the fact that the flowers on such branches fade early, so the likelihood of getting a hybrid is minimal;
• The fruits must be fully ripened on the bush. But here it is important not to miss the moment of collection, since in overripe tomatoes the fermentation process occurs and the seed shell is destroyed.

By following these simple rules, you can get a good harvest of tomatoes in the future from seeds collected yourself.

How to disinfect tomato seeds?

It is better to disinfect seeds before storing them, even before drying them. Calibrated seeds are kept for 15-20 minutes in a pink solution of potassium permanganate and washed with running water. The best prevention of fungal diseases is storing tomato seeds in a dry, dark place at room temperature. Warming up before planting in the ground at +50-60°C copes well with fungal spores and increases seed germination.

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Procurement of seeds

Despite the fact that tomato seeds are very small, the process of harvesting them does not seem too complicated. You don't need any special tools or equipment, but you do need to be prepared. You will need:

1. Tomatoes.
2. Sharp knife.
3. Spoon (dessert or tea spoon).
4. Bowl.
5. Gauze fabric folded several times.
6. A napkin or paper towel.
7. A bag for further storage (paper or cloth, always well ventilated).

Prepared and ripe (no more than 2 weeks) tomatoes are cut into slices. Depending on the variety, the fruits contain a different number of seed chambers, so some are divided into 4 parts, while others are even larger. Next, you can use one of two options for collecting seeds.

The most reliable way

After cutting, carefully squeeze out the juice from red, ripe and soft tomatoes and collect the seeds with a small spoon. You can use absolutely any kind of dishes for this: glass, plastic, porcelain.

To make it easier to separate the unnecessary, a fermentation process is carried out. To do this, the resulting mass is filled with water slightly above its level. Then mix a little and leave for up to 4 days. To prevent dust from getting into the container, cover it with gauze.

Some gardening professionals insist that it is impossible to pour water into the tomato mass for fermentation; the process should only occur in its own juice.

Depending on the climate, fermentation lasts for different times. In the southern regions it can take only 2 days. If the mixture is over-fermented, the seeds will sprout and become unusable.

When the pulp has fermented, bubbles or a slight coating of mold appears, the process is complete, proceed to the next stage.

Anything on top of the mixture is skimmed off and discarded. Viable seeds at this stage are located at the bottom. Having removed the unnecessary once, the procedure is repeated several more times. Add water, stir and remove the top “garbage”. As a result, only clean seed material and a little water should remain. Now the remaining contents of the bowl are thrown onto a gauze cloth or a fine sieve.

It is not enough to separate the seeds; they must be disinfected and protected from possible infections and diseases of the root system. This can be done using a soap solution as follows. Rub a level tablespoon of laundry soap of the highest concentration (72%). Pour water (0.5 l) and mix. When the soap dissolves, the seed is dipped into it for half an hour directly in gauze. Some gardeners do it differently: they use a weak solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate.

Next, drying is necessary. The seeds are now thoroughly washed in clean water. Then put it on a paper towel, always in one layer, and leave until the excess liquid drains. The drying itself is done in the sun, but not in direct rays. Sometimes the seeds are turned over.

An important step is to properly store the material. Storage bags should be well ventilated. Alternatively, you can use new paper tea bags. Be sure to indicate the seed type and packaging date with a marker on the bag.

A simplified version of seed preparation

The gardener does not always have enough time to engage in fermentation and dressing. And sometimes a large volume of seed is required. In this case, in order to prepare the seeds, an easier option is used. For this you will need:

1. Separate seed tomatoes from hybrids.
2. Select specimens that are suitable in size and ripeness.
3. Cut the tomato, separate the pulp, spread it on a napkin in as thin a layer as possible.
4. Place to dry, turning occasionally.
5. Place them in bags and don’t forget to sign them.

If the material was collected in this way, then its quality will be somewhat lower, but if a lot of seeds are collected, germination will remain at a sufficient level.

It is important to remember that you can store independently collected tomato seeds without loss of quality for up to 5 years. In this case, the temperature should be room temperature and the humidity should not be very high. If the seeds are stored in the refrigerator, then before opening the package it should warm up to room temperature naturally.

How to properly store tomato seeds?

If you use purchased planting material, you should know that it undergoes special treatment so that future seedlings grow faster.

With proper storage of homemade seeds, you can get excellent germination within 4 years. Therefore, if you prepare tomato seeds yourself, then you should know how to store them.

Store the seeds in a room where the air temperature is approximately +24°C.

Humidity should be no more than 70%. Due to high humidity, the seeds will begin to germinate.

Choose a dark, dry place and store the seeds in a sealed bag.

You must know that it is not advisable to collect a change in hybrid varieties, since they do not retain the quality of the variety. Also be careful when picking 2 or 3 varieties of tomatoes so that their seeds do not get mixed up.

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Additional recommendations from gardeners

Each gardener has his own long-term, time-tested experience in collecting seed material from tomatoes. Such recommendations will be useful for both beginners and those improving their experience. There are few of them:

1. When collecting seeds, you can also use not quite ripe fruits. This is especially true for residents of the northern regions. They are left to ripen for approximately 2 weeks.
2. One of the best ways to separate healthy seeds from empty ones that are unsuitable for further germination is to put them in a salt solution. It is prepared at the rate of 1 tsp. for 1 glass of water at room temperature. Bad seeds are bound to surface.
3. A good way to dry the material is to spread it on toilet paper. Seeds are placed at equal intervals. When they are dry, the paper is rolled up again and stored. And in the spring, when forcing seedlings, they plant them without separating them from the paper.
4. During storage it is necessary to maintain a humidity of no more than 55%. The best option would be the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. The packaging material should not be transparent.
5. Fruits for seeds are not taken from stepchildren.

Despite the recommendations listed, seeding material should not be stored for more than 4 years; in the future, their germination rate will constantly decrease.