Workbook: Harvesting & storing seed

Some tomato varieties contain more seed than others, for example, large beefsteak or plum varieties may yield less than ten seeds, while smaller varieties such as cherry tomatoes can produce scores of seed.

To save a small quantity of seeds for your own use

Remove the seeds from the fruit and rinse them in a sieve under cold running water, rubbing them against the sieve to remove the gel coating.  Once clean, spread them on a paper towel or piece of kitchen paper and leave them to dry.  When dry, fold up the paper, label it, and in the spring pop the paper with the seeds still attached on to moist compost in a seed tray to start your plants.