Seed Sizes

Greenhouse_Geo · February 7, 2023

Last year I saved a bunch of tomato seeds. Today when I pulled them out to start some, I noticed there were a huge difference in sizes. Some were fairly large but others range from medium to tiny. Some are so small I can't barely see them. Will the small ones produce just as well as the normal size ones?
thanks
Geo

FarmerShawn · February 7, 2023

I think the smallest ones are probably immature, and may not even germinate at all.

Fred Hempel · February 7, 2023

Did you ferment? Usually when you ferment, the smaller ones (like Shawn said, often non-viable) will float off during rinsing. Only the larger, viable, seeds sink during the rinsing steps.

Same idea as winnowing grain seed.

Greenhouse_Geo · February 7, 2023

Yes I fermented and poured off the floaters. Maybe I didn't leave them soak long enough?
Since that was last year were there be any detriment to soaking them again for a couple hours or will that damage them at this point?
Geo

Tormato · February 8, 2023

I always select the medium-sized ones to start.

The very small ones can have problems, even if they germinate. The large ones, for me, shoot up to about 3" in the first couple of days after germinating. I grow seedlings outside. A very tall thin seedling will collapse in a bit of wind.

I have very few problems with the medium-sized seeds.

FarmerShawn · February 8, 2023

Only soak them if you plan to plant them all. Soaking at this point will cause all viable seeds to germinate. Best to just plant what you plan to grow, and thin out any extras if you accidentally get some little ones in there and they happen to sprout.

ddsack · February 8, 2023

If you have a lot of seeds to spare in one variety batch, maybe pick out all the small ones and just do a test germination on paper towels to satisfy your own curiosity. You can discard the results, but at least you should have an idea of what percentage of smalls might germinate in the future.

Also, size of seeds will vary between different tomato varieties, some cherries having very tiny seeds, and even some larger hearts and beefsteaks may not necessarily have particularly large seeds. So don't expect seeds from all your varieties to be uniform in size.

February 7, 2023	#1
Greenhouse_Geo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Oregon Posts: 7	Seed Sizes Last year I saved a bunch of tomato seeds. Today when I pulled them out to start some, I noticed there were a huge difference in sizes. Some were fairly large but others range from medium to tiny. Some are so small I can't barely see them. Will the small ones produce just as well as the normal size ones? thanks Geo

February 7, 2023	#2
FarmerShawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,001	I think the smallest ones are probably immature, and may not even germinate at all. __________________ "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers

February 7, 2023	#3
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	Did you ferment? Usually when you ferment, the smaller ones (like Shawn said, often non-viable) will float off during rinsing. Only the larger, viable, seeds sink during the rinsing steps. Same idea as winnowing grain seed. __________________ Artisan Seeds -- www.growartisan.com

February 8, 2023	#6
FarmerShawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,001	Only soak them if you plan to plant them all. Soaking at this point will cause all viable seeds to germinate. Best to just plant what you plan to grow, and thin out any extras if you accidentally get some little ones in there and they happen to sprout. __________________ "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers

February 8, 2023	#7
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	If you have a lot of seeds to spare in one variety batch, maybe pick out all the small ones and just do a test germination on paper towels to satisfy your own curiosity. You can discard the results, but at least you should have an idea of what percentage of smalls might germinate in the future. Also, size of seeds will vary between different tomato varieties, some cherries having very tiny seeds, and even some larger hearts and beefsteaks may not necessarily have particularly large seeds. So don't expect seeds from all your varieties to be uniform in size. __________________ Dee ************** Last edited by ddsack; February 8, 2023 at 12:15 PM.

February 8, 2023	#5
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	I always select the medium-sized ones to start. The very small ones can have problems, even if they germinate. The large ones, for me, shoot up to about 3" in the first couple of days after germinating. I grow seedlings outside. A very tall thin seedling will collapse in a bit of wind. I have very few problems with the medium-sized seeds.