Garden

Save Your Seeds with Paper Towels

Propagating a new plant from the seeds of a fruit or vegetable that you have grown yourself is easy to do if you have the right type of
plant. Although most plants produce seeds, some modern hybridized plants are not able to reproduce from seed and will not germinate well in the garden.

HOW TO USE PAPER TOWELS TO SEED-SAVE

  1. Collect cherry tomatoes fresh from the garden.
  2. Place one tomato inside an unbleached paper towel
    or napkin.
  3. Squish the paper towel and tomato flat, letting
    the seeds spread apart within the paper.
  4. Open up the towel and gently pull out any very
    large chunks, then fold closed again.
  5. Let the tomato seeds and towel dry completely.
    A good way to do this is to lay out the flattened
    tomato and towel on top of your clothes dryer.
  6. When dry, cut the tomato seed paper into squares.
  7. Store over the winter in a paper bag, which allows
    for air circulation.
  8. In the spring, at the proper time for your area, plant
    the paper towel squares directly in the garden or
    in a starting container, about a 1⁄4 inch below
    the surface of the soil.
  9. Water well with a diluted liquid organic fertilizer
    and water mixture.
  10. Once seedlings get several inches high, transplant
    into a permanent location.