Saving Seed

TexasTomatoes · March 19, 2006

I have a purple tomatillosomeone sent. What did you do to save seeds from these? Do they need to be fermented?

Thanks

Reign · April 14, 2006

paraphased from From Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth

...The paper husks are removed and placed in a blender with enough water to cover them. When the fruits are totally blended, empty contents into a large bowl. Add enough water to double the mixture. Stir vigorously and allow the good seeds to settle at the bottom. Gently pour off the debris and hollow seeds. Add more water and repeat process until only clean seeds and water remain. Pour cleans seeds into a strainer. Wipe the bottom of the strainer on a towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Dump the seeds onto a glass or ceramic dish to dry.

Organic_Nut · May 22, 2006

I would think the blender would grind up the seeds and destroy them.

**carolyn137** · May 22, 2006

I would think the blender would grind up the seeds and destroy them.

But it doesn't, for tomatillos and other kinds of fruits and berries.

Suzanne Ashworth's book From Seed to Seed is considered the seed savers Bible, if you will, and she has perhaps more experience with seed saving of so many different kinds of types/varieties than anyone I know of.

If you're into seed saving in general you really should consider buying that book.

travis · May 22, 2006

The blender method may work, but I tried it once and it made such a mess to have to clean up that I'll never use it again for tomatillos. Why bother?

I just cut the tomatillo in half and use a spoon to scoop out the pith and seeds into a cup. Then I added just enough water to float the mess and let it ferment same as tomato pulp. I thought it stunk even better than fermented tomato pulp in fact.

My seeds came out perfectly clean just like tomato seeds only not as dark.

PV

DeanRIowa · October 21, 2008

I thought I would note something about the blender method.

I was at a party over the weekend and I noticed in a flower bed 1/2 dozen or so tomatillo plants and I asked the owner where he got the seeds? He said, they must have spilled some salsa or something at one of his parties a few years ago, because they came up on there own.

Now I know how he makes the salsa, first the tomatillos are boiled then blended with spices. I wouldn't recommend boiling them first, but they appear to handle that. So blending must not hurt them.

Dean

March 19, 2006	#1
TexasTomatoes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central texas Posts: 6	Saving Seed I have a purple tomatillosomeone sent. What did you do to save seeds from these? Do they need to be fermented? Thanks

May 22, 2006	#4
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	I would think the blender would grind up the seeds and destroy them. But it doesn't, for tomatillos and other kinds of fruits and berries. Suzanne Ashworth's book From Seed to Seed is considered the seed savers Bible, if you will, and she has perhaps more experience with seed saving of so many different kinds of types/varieties than anyone I know of. If you're into seed saving in general you really should consider buying that book. __________________ Carolyn

April 14, 2006	#2
Reign Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NY Posts: 130	paraphased from From Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth ...The paper husks are removed and placed in a blender with enough water to cover them. When the fruits are totally blended, empty contents into a large bowl. Add enough water to double the mixture. Stir vigorously and allow the good seeds to settle at the bottom. Gently pour off the debris and hollow seeds. Add more water and repeat process until only clean seeds and water remain. Pour cleans seeds into a strainer. Wipe the bottom of the strainer on a towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Dump the seeds onto a glass or ceramic dish to dry.

May 22, 2006	#3
Organic_Nut Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mass Zone 5 495 @ Rt 2 Posts: 60	I would think the blender would grind up the seeds and destroy them.

May 22, 2006	#5
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	The blender method may work, but I tried it once and it made such a mess to have to clean up that I'll never use it again for tomatillos. Why bother? I just cut the tomatillo in half and use a spoon to scoop out the pith and seeds into a cup. Then I added just enough water to float the mess and let it ferment same as tomato pulp. I thought it stunk even better than fermented tomato pulp in fact. My seeds came out perfectly clean just like tomato seeds only not as dark. PV

October 21, 2008	#6
DeanRIowa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 5a - NE Iowa Posts: 416	I thought I would note something about the blender method. I was at a party over the weekend and I noticed in a flower bed 1/2 dozen or so tomatillo plants and I asked the owner where he got the seeds? He said, they must have spilled some salsa or something at one of his parties a few years ago, because they came up on there own. Now I know how he makes the salsa, first the tomatillos are boiled then blended with spices. I wouldn't recommend boiling them first, but they appear to handle that. So blending must not hurt them. Dean