Seeds from unripened tomatoes?

j.t.delaney · October 7, 2012

We had our first hard frost last night, marking the end of the 2012 season. Unfortunately, there were a few varieties that didn't ripen in time for me to collect seeds from, though they produced huge green fruits. My question: if I take these green ones in and let them fully ripen, can I still save seeds from them?

ContainerTed · October 7, 2012

My experience is this. If you take them in while keeping them on the vine, you have a good chance. I usually take in a few and hang the vine up in the garage (any place that will be free from frost). The germination rate will be markedly lower than truly vine ripened fruit, but it may let you have fresh seed for next year. Just make sure you allow the fruit to fully ripen while still attached to the vine.

b54red · October 8, 2012

One of the problems I have found in ripening fall tomatoes is keeping them where they get light and warmth. If kept somewhere fairly cool they will ripen so slowly that I have found seed inside the tomato already starting to sprout. I have actually saved seed from tomatoes with just a bit of blush and found many of the seed viable but not as many as from a ripe fruit.

j.t.delaney · October 8, 2012

[For the sake of traceability, I'm including a link to a related thread.]

October 7, 2012	#1
j.t.delaney Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 18	Seeds from unripened tomatoes? We had our first hard frost last night, marking the end of the 2012 season. Unfortunately, there were a few varieties that didn't ripen in time for me to collect seeds from, though they produced huge green fruits. My question: if I take these green ones in and let them fully ripen, can I still save seeds from them?

October 7, 2012	#2
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	My experience is this. If you take them in while keeping them on the vine, you have a good chance. I usually take in a few and hang the vine up in the garage (any place that will be free from frost). The germination rate will be markedly lower than truly vine ripened fruit, but it may let you have fresh seed for next year. Just make sure you allow the fruit to fully ripen while still attached to the vine. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

October 8, 2012	#3
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	One of the problems I have found in ripening fall tomatoes is keeping them where they get light and warmth. If kept somewhere fairly cool they will ripen so slowly that I have found seed inside the tomato already starting to sprout. I have actually saved seed from tomatoes with just a bit of blush and found many of the seed viable but not as many as from a ripe fruit.