Seed Saving Question - Fermentation

recruiterg · August 30, 2009

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 · August 30, 2009

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 · August 30, 2009

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 · August 31, 2009

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

Barbee · August 31, 2009

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 · August 31, 2009

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 · August 31, 2009

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 · August 31, 2009

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

August 30, 2009	#1
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	Seed Saving Question - Fermentation 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

August 31, 2009	#5
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	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. __________________ *Barbee*

August 31, 2009	#7
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	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. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

August 30, 2009	#2
rutabagaboy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Near Sacramento, California Posts: 322	I don't cover my cups to encourage the air-borne organisms to "drop-in". You might be preventing that by covering the container.

August 30, 2009	#3
mjc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: WV Posts: 603	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.

August 31, 2009	#4
RJ_Hythloday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Logan, UT Posts: 207	I'm wondering if a Tbsp is enough water. Is it drying out at all?

August 31, 2009	#6
clara Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 1,351	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

August 31, 2009	#8
Gobig_or_Gohome_toms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Zone 4 Lake Minnetonka, MN Posts: 967	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