Fermenting seeds but lack juice

jmsieglaff · June 21, 2016

I have some (like 2-4) cherry tomatoes I'm wanting to save seed from, only problem is that is not going to give me enough juice to properly ferment them. I don't have any other tomatoes that will be ripe anytime soon to 'donate' juice. Does anyone have another juice that can be added? I could go to the store and get a crappy tomato to be a juice donor. In the past I've added water to a small amount of juice, but it was too much and then they didn't ferment. I appreciate any thoughts!

ContainerTed · June 21, 2016

Short of buying a tomato to use for the juice (you must put a value on the problem), I'd probably use the scouring cleanser method of scrubbing off the gel. The bleach in the Comet, Ajax, or whatever powder will do some good on seed exterior pathogens.

I usually put the seeds and gel into a small strainer and use my fingers to break the gel sacs and allow any juice to drip away. Then I shake some cleanser on them and stir it around until I get a good "runny" paste. Then I let it sit for about 10 minutes. I scrub some more and then rinse. If necessary, I repeat. Then its just dry and store. One important point is for you to make sure your rinsing gets all the cleanser off.

jmsieglaff · June 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by ContainerTed

Short of buying a tomato to use for the juice (you must put a value on the problem), I'd probably use the scouring cleanser method of scrubbing off the gel. The bleach in the Comet, Ajax, or whatever powder will do some good on seed exterior pathogens.

I usually put the seeds and gel into a small strainer and use my fingers to break the gel sacs and allow any juice to drip away. Then I shake some cleanser on them and stir it around until I get a good "runny" paste. Then I let it sit for about 10 minutes. I scrub some more and then rinse. If necessary, I repeat. Then its just dry and store. One important point is for you to make sure your rinsing gets all the cleanser off.

Thanks Ted, would OxyClean be OK for this? I don't have any other powdered cleansers.

Labradors2 · June 21, 2016

Whenever my tomato isn't juicy enough, I just add a little water - a very small amount. I do small ferments, so I use a liquor glass or a small wine glass, putting a plastic cover over it to prevent evaporation and smell. It works just fine!

Linda

jmsieglaff · June 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

Whenever my tomato isn't juicy enough, I just add a little water - a very small amount. I do small ferments, so I use a liquor glass or a small wine glass, putting a plastic cover over it to prevent evaporation and smell. It works just fine!

Linda

Hmmmm, maybe I could ferment them in a shot glass!

Rajun Gardener · June 21, 2016

I haven't tried this but Tom Wagner uses TriSodium Phosphate(TSP) to clean the gel off of true potato seeds. He has a tutorial on it too. Go to post #12 and Tom has a link, he also talks about Oxyclean.
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=7899

jmsieglaff · June 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajun Gardener

I haven't tried this but Tom Wagner uses TriSodium Phosphate(TSP) to clean the gel off of true potato seeds. He has a tutorial on it too. Go to post #12 and Tom has a link, he also talks about Oxyclean.
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=7899

Thanks for this as well! Post #8 was also very helpful.

AlittleSalt · June 21, 2016

In fermentation, you can add a tablespoon of water and use a smaller container. Dollar Tree and countless other stores sell shot glasses 4 for a dollar. They make saving smaller amounts of seeds a lot easier.

lol, it takes me forever to type, but yes, it works.

Labradors2 · June 21, 2016

Well gee Salt, now you tell me about those dollar store shot glasses! Hubby complained about masking tape glue (from my labels) on his cut glass shot glasses so I went to the flea market and bought some fancy little liquor glasses $4 for 5

.

Linda

Worth1 · June 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

Well gee Salt, now you tell me about those dollar store shot glasses! Hubby complained about masking tape glue (from my labels) on his cut glass shot glasses so I went to the flea market and bought some fancy little liquor glasses $4 for 5

.

Linda

You need to get rid of every bit of the tan masking tape you have in the house.
Go buy yourself several rolls of good painters tape.
It comes in all widths and is my go to label material.

Worth

ContainerTed · June 21, 2016

I've not tried Oxyclean, but it might do it. You are looking for some grit to do this job. And, I don't think it will help with those other pathogens on the outside of the seed casing. I like the bleach when fermenting can't be done. It also seems that the gel sacs dissolve in the scouring chlorine mixture. So, I stick with Comet (big can for $1.00 at the dollar stores). I think the other reason I go that way is simply that from tomato to the drying plate is only about 20 minutes and half of that is waiting time.

I don't know if the shot glass thing can catch enough spores to really get the fungus mat going. There may not be enough for the fungi to eat right away, or there might not be enough fungi to do the eating. But, I've not tried it that way. At the least, I think the process will be slowed down somewhat.

Worth1 · June 21, 2016

For such a small amount I wouldn't even worry about fermenting or anything else.
I would just get the jell coat off and be done with it.

Worth

Labradors2 · June 21, 2016

I might have bought some very cheap painter's tape, but it had no sticky on it. My masking tape stays on the glass for >5 days of fermenting and then is used to label the plate that they dry on. Easy peasy (except for the sticky residue).

My seeds ferment just fine in their little glasses, and always produce a mat.

Linda

ContainerTed · June 21, 2016

You can also use scotch tape. Fold the end back onto itself (glue side to glue side) to make a tab for easy removal later, and then write the name on the tape with a sharpie. I even do this on the old medicine bottles I use for seed storage.

Worth1 · June 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

I might have bought some very cheap painter's tape, but it had no sticky on it. My masking tape stays on the glass for >5 days of fermenting and then is used to label the plate that they dry on. Easy peasy (except for the sticky residue).

My seeds ferment just fine in their little glasses, and always produce a mat.

Linda

3M Brand except <<<(accept), no other substitute.

I am serious about this with any tape you buy, there simply is no better never will be and never has been.

Worth

June 21, 2016	#2
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Short of buying a tomato to use for the juice (you must put a value on the problem), I'd probably use the scouring cleanser method of scrubbing off the gel. The bleach in the Comet, Ajax, or whatever powder will do some good on seed exterior pathogens. I usually put the seeds and gel into a small strainer and use my fingers to break the gel sacs and allow any juice to drip away. Then I shake some cleanser on them and stir it around until I get a good "runny" paste. Then I let it sit for about 10 minutes. I scrub some more and then rinse. If necessary, I repeat. Then its just dry and store. One important point is for you to make sure your rinsing gets all the cleanser off. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

June 21, 2016	#11
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	I've not tried Oxyclean, but it might do it. You are looking for some grit to do this job. And, I don't think it will help with those other pathogens on the outside of the seed casing. I like the bleach when fermenting can't be done. It also seems that the gel sacs dissolve in the scouring chlorine mixture. So, I stick with Comet (big can for $1.00 at the dollar stores). I think the other reason I go that way is simply that from tomato to the drying plate is only about 20 minutes and half of that is waiting time. I don't know if the shot glass thing can catch enough spores to really get the fungus mat going. There may not be enough for the fungi to eat right away, or there might not be enough fungi to do the eating. But, I've not tried it that way. At the least, I think the process will be slowed down somewhat. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

June 21, 2016	#14
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	You can also use scotch tape. Fold the end back onto itself (glue side to glue side) to make a tab for easy removal later, and then write the name on the tape with a sharpie. I even do this on the old medicine bottles I use for seed storage. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

June 21, 2016	#1
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	Fermenting seeds but lack juice I have some (like 2-4) cherry tomatoes I'm wanting to save seed from, only problem is that is not going to give me enough juice to properly ferment them. I don't have any other tomatoes that will be ripe anytime soon to 'donate' juice. Does anyone have another juice that can be added? I could go to the store and get a crappy tomato to be a juice donor. In the past I've added water to a small amount of juice, but it was too much and then they didn't ferment. I appreciate any thoughts!

June 21, 2016	#4
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,896	Whenever my tomato isn't juicy enough, I just add a little water - a very small amount. I do small ferments, so I use a liquor glass or a small wine glass, putting a plastic cover over it to prevent evaporation and smell. It works just fine! Linda

June 21, 2016	#6
Rajun Gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tomato Cornhole Posts: 2,550	I haven't tried this but Tom Wagner uses TriSodium Phosphate(TSP) to clean the gel off of true potato seeds. He has a tutorial on it too. Go to post #12 and Tom has a link, he also talks about Oxyclean. http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=7899

June 21, 2016	#8
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	In fermentation, you can add a tablespoon of water and use a smaller container. Dollar Tree and countless other stores sell shot glasses 4 for a dollar. They make saving smaller amounts of seeds a lot easier. lol, it takes me forever to type, but yes, it works.

June 21, 2016	#12
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	For such a small amount I wouldn't even worry about fermenting or anything else. I would just get the jell coat off and be done with it. Worth