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This time of year, I’m especially susceptible to tomato envy. It seems that everyone else’s tomato plants look healthier and are more productive than mine. This is the third summer of what I consider as failed tomato “crop” – to be exact my four potted plants are a disappointment, again.

While contemplating what to do about this for next year (I’m not giving up), I’ve been eyeing a particular tomato plant belonging to one of my neighbors. It’s caught my eye not only for its size but also for its prolific nature. And it’s being grown in a pot, no less.

So, I’ve come up with a plan!

I’m going to harvest the seeds from this blue-ribbon deserving specimen and use them for my plants next year. Of course, I’ll be asking permission before plucking a couple of the absolute, best-looking tomatoes from this gorgeous plant.

There are a couple of ways to go about saving tomato seeds. Most important is to select a super healthy plant as the parent. And it needs to be an open pollinated or heirloom variety, not a hybrid. Next, decide if you want to go the fermentation or dried route. I’ll probably choose fermentation as I’ve read better reviews on this method. Here’s how it works (or is supposed to work).

1. Select healthy, perfectly ripe fruit
2. Cut open and scoop seeds and pulp into a jar
3. Add water to cover the seeds by about 1/2”
4. Partially cover the jar top (you want contents to breath), and place in a location that’s about 70º - 75ºF
5. After about 2 – 4 days the good, viable seeds will drop to the bottom of the jar
6. Pour off the water, careful not to lose the seeds in the bottom of the jar
7. Rinse these seeds in the jar and then strain, separating seeds from any remaining pulp
8. Tap seeds from strainer onto paper plate, spread the seeds out so they do not touch each other
9. Put the plate in a ventilated area and allow seeds to dry for 2 – 3 weeks
10. Store seeds in an envelope or covered container until ready to plant

Here’s hoping for a successful seed harvest that leads to future success for my tomato crop.