To Cover or Not to Cover

[Old chef]

To Cover or Not to Cover That is the question!

Saving seeds in the kitchen in uncovered half pint ball jars eventually becomes a smelly and infested with fruit fly area. My wife for some reason doesn't appreciate my efforts, especially once she moves one of the jars. If you ferment seeds, you understand

Will they ferment the same if I cover them?

Cheers
Old Chef

[Labradors2]

I cover my containers for precisely the reasons that you mention and they turn out just fine for me - except when the fruit flies find their way in somehow under the plastic wrap..... They get a layer of mold on the top, and I don't have to worry about adding more water if the tomato wasn't very juicy.

Linda

[MissS]

I use a coffee filter to cover my seed cups. It sure helps with the odor and keeps the bugs out. While the odor can get strong if you allow the seeds to sit more than 5-6 days, it is also a good reminder for you that it is time to rinse the seeds and dry them.

[JLJ_]

Hopefully Carolyn will come by and comment, as I'm not sure about this . . . but I had the idea that for proper fermentation of tomato seeds, it was not supposed to be an anaerobic process. But perhaps with a small amount being fermented in a largish jar, that would be enough air . . . I don't know.

FWIW, I ferment mine covered by the same tulle I use for bagging blossoms. While allowing some air flow, it pretty well excludes the gnats . . . pretty well in that if it's stretched tight sometimes I've seen a gnat wiggle its way through, or rather I've seen one halfway through, wiggling, and eventually didn't see him any more. But I think they can only do that if the tulle is stretched tight, and usually not even then as I don't recall seeing them inside a fermentation jar that had been kept tulle-topped.

It appears to me that it at least reduces odors, too, probably by reducing air flow, but I'm not particularly sensitive to that sort of odor, so it would have to be pretty strong to bother me.

[b54red]

I always cover mine or they would be fruit fly heaven down here. I use small tall jars for fermenting my tomato seeds and put the lids on but I leave them lose enough to allow a little air flow and turned enough to keep out the fruit flies and it works fine.

Bill

[KarenO]

I definitely cover mine. The seal is hardly airtight though. My scotch taped coffee cups are not some sort of airtight anaerobic vacuum seal just closed so the bugs stay out and they can't spill if they get tipped over.

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by MissS

I use a coffee filter to cover my seed cups. It sure helps with the odor and keeps the bugs out. While the odor can get strong if you allow the seeds to sit more than 5-6 days, it is also a good reminder for you that it is time to rinse the seeds and dry them.

DITTO> coffee filter.
I use pint or half pint size canning jars. And use coffee filter in place of sealing lid. I also write the name on the filter before using it.
I do this mainly to keep the fruit flies out. The odor does not bother me.

[Barbee]

Originally Posted by Old chef

To Cover or Not to Cover That is the question!

Saving seeds in the kitchen in uncovered half pint ball jars eventually becomes a smelly and infested with fruit fly area. My wife for some reason doesn't appreciate my efforts, especially once she moves one of the jars. If you ferment seeds, you understand

Will they ferment the same if I cover them?

Cheers
Old Chef

I use a paper towel with a rubber band to cover mine.

[Old chef]

Hello All and Thanks

Will start to cover. The bride will be much happier without the fruit flies!

Cheers
Old Chef