Seed Saving Question - Fermentation

[recruiterg]

I am having a less than 50% success rate at getting my seeds to ferment. Basically, I take the pulp and add a tablespoon of water, cover glass with plastic wrap, poke holes in plastic wrap with a fork. I am not seeing the solution getting covered with mold. Am I not waiting long enough? Not enough heat? Can you add anything to enhance fermentation? Generally, I get good germination and have no disease problems. Please let me know if you have any ideas which will help.

Pat

[rutabagaboy]

I don't cover my cups to encourage the air-borne organisms to "drop-in". You might be preventing that by covering the container.

[mjc]

You could possibly 'spike' it...put one that is getting mold on it, without a cover under a plastic storage box with several other containers of seeds, also uncovered.

But the mold isn't really necessary...it's just an indicator that fermentation is occurring. I go more by smell than anything else, properly fermenting seeds smell...well, like they are fermenting...a sort of winey/yeasty smell...along with a hint of that 'rotten' tomato scent.

75 F and up it should take around three days. Below that, I'd give it an extra day or so.

[RJ_Hythloday]

I'm wondering if a Tbsp is enough water. Is it drying out at all?

[Barbee]

Just my two cents and nothing scientific at all to back it up Pat, but I think the air hitting the juice is what you need.
If you have a good bit of pulp mixed in the cup it sinks to the bottom and you end up with mostly water on top.
I try to use mainly juice (a few plops of pulp always get in there but it's mostly juice) and then I always add water to bring the level of the cup up to about half full. I use a half pint jelly jar to give you an idea. You should see little air bubbles collecting around the edge of the liquid before you see mold forming.

[clara]

This year - for the first time - I added some orange juice to the fermenting seeds (not covered). A tomato-friend had told me to do so to accelerate fermentation - and it seems to work quicker than without orange juice. After fermentation, you have to wash the seeds very carefully, otherwise they glue together. Sometimes the seeds look yellow or orange, but my friend told me that this doen't affect germination. I think he is right, because I never had any problems to grow out his seeds. clara

[feldon30]

Back when I would ferment, I would add some water, cover with plastic wrap, put a rubber band to hold the plastic wrap on, and then poke a couple of holes with a knife. Of course now I just use Oxiclean.

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Pat I cover mine with a papertowel with a few holes poked in it and let it sit out on the shady deck for 4-5 days depending on temperature. It has been cool this last week so that could be slowing the mold growth. I do not get a ton of mold on top but the liquid does get milky colored and smells like a fermenting juice. I to in the last 3 years of saving seed have never seen a ton of mold growing on the top. I think you will be fine without seeing a ton of mold on top. Just my 2 cents.

Craig