Seeds from canned San Marzanos

dmgiat · November 24, 2013

I have tried twice to germinate seeds taken from canned imported San Marzanos. None have germinated. I'm wondering why. I doubt it's due to genetic modification since the certified SM's are heirlooms, not even hybrids. Could it have to do with some kind of anti-microbial treatment, like UV? Any thoughts?

KarenO · November 30, 2013

Viable seeds are living things. Canned tomatoes (and their seeds) are fully cooked. Cooked seeds are dead. San Marzano seed is commonly and inexpensively available in stores and online, best to buy some or if you want to save your own seed you need to do so from fresh, ripe raw tomatoes.
KarenO

ContainerTed · November 30, 2013

Ditto what KarenO posted. Referencing several posts on several websites, Carolyn indicated that tomato seeds were dead when the temperature exceeded ~125 degrees Fahrenheit. Most canning operations worldwide cook the tomatoes in the sealed cans with a temp of about 180 degrees Fahrenheit to kill off any bacteria.

San Marzano seeds are available at some of the retailers or you may want to post in the seeds wanted forum here at Tomatoville. The hard part is deciding which San Marzano you want. There are a half dozen or more - all good. My personal favorite is San Marzano Select Redorte. It's very productive and the taste is among the best.

Doug9345 · November 30, 2013

Since this is also your first post let me say welcome.

Worth1 · November 30, 2013

Yes let me welcome you too.
Remember there are no stupid questions only stupid answers.
Feel free to ask anything you want, there are plenty of people here to help.

Worth

Father'sDaughter · November 30, 2013

Welcome!

I actually have a small number of seeds for San Marzano, San Marzano Redorta, and San Marzano Longo. I haven't had much luck with any of them, but my parents, also here in Mass., grow them all with great success. If you're interested in a few seeds of each, send me a pm.

dmgiat · December 3, 2013

Thanks, everyone for the welcome and for the advice. I grow the Redorta very successfully, and I will be also be planting seed from a SM native to Lazio, which I took from a tomato bought in Italy last summer. But I would sure like to try growing whatever it is they're exporting in those DOP-certified cans. I don't see anything online identifying that variety. Anyone know for sure?

Doug9345 · December 6, 2013

Here a link with more information about San Manzano Tomatoes. http://www.sanmarzanotomatoes.org/varieties.html

Fred Hempel · December 6, 2013

Great link Doug!

NarnianGarden · December 7, 2013

Looking forward to growing San M 2 next year - hope that it'll grow here well and produce enough for sauce.

November 24, 2013	#1
dmgiat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2	Seeds from canned San Marzanos I have tried twice to germinate seeds taken from canned imported San Marzanos. None have germinated. I'm wondering why. I doubt it's due to genetic modification since the certified SM's are heirlooms, not even hybrids. Could it have to do with some kind of anti-microbial treatment, like UV? Any thoughts?

November 30, 2013	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	Viable seeds are living things. Canned tomatoes (and their seeds) are fully cooked. Cooked seeds are dead. San Marzano seed is commonly and inexpensively available in stores and online, best to buy some or if you want to save your own seed you need to do so from fresh, ripe raw tomatoes. KarenO Last edited by KarenO; November 30, 2013 at 01:06 PM.

November 30, 2013	#3
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Ditto what KarenO posted. Referencing several posts on several websites, Carolyn indicated that tomato seeds were dead when the temperature exceeded ~125 degrees Fahrenheit. Most canning operations worldwide cook the tomatoes in the sealed cans with a temp of about 180 degrees Fahrenheit to kill off any bacteria. San Marzano seeds are available at some of the retailers or you may want to post in the seeds wanted forum here at Tomatoville. The hard part is deciding which San Marzano you want. There are a half dozen or more - all good. My personal favorite is San Marzano Select Redorte. It's very productive and the taste is among the best. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

December 3, 2013	#7
dmgiat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2	Thanks! Thanks, everyone for the welcome and for the advice. I grow the Redorta very successfully, and I will be also be planting seed from a SM native to Lazio, which I took from a tomato bought in Italy last summer. But I would sure like to try growing whatever it is they're exporting in those DOP-certified cans. I don't see anything online identifying that variety. Anyone know for sure?

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November 30, 2013	#4
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	Since this is also your first post let me say welcome.

November 30, 2013	#5
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Yes let me welcome you too. Remember there are no stupid questions only stupid answers. Feel free to ask anything you want, there are plenty of people here to help. Worth

November 30, 2013	#6
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Welcome! I actually have a small number of seeds for San Marzano, San Marzano Redorta, and San Marzano Longo. I haven't had much luck with any of them, but my parents, also here in Mass., grow them all with great success. If you're interested in a few seeds of each, send me a pm.

December 6, 2013	#8
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	Here a link with more information about San Manzano Tomatoes. http://www.sanmarzanotomatoes.org/varieties.html

December 6, 2013	#9
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	Great link Doug!

December 7, 2013	#10
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	Looking forward to growing San M 2 next year - hope that it'll grow here well and produce enough for sauce.