The annual ritual commences – germinating tomato seeds for the summer. I have a number of varieties stored in their original paper packets in a ziplock bag (but not zipped) in the basement. And each year I select 4 of each variety for growing. I moisten commercial seed starter mix and with my mould produce a 20 block rectangle of 0.75″ individual soil blocks.
Into each block I insert a single tomato seed on the tip of a moistened pencil. The seedling tray sits on a heating pad below a timed fluorescent light in the basement.
On 1/13/14 I seeded the blocks and by 1/22/14 the seedlings were ready for relocation to 2″ soil blocks made from my compost, play sand and other additives. Now the cold has departed (for the time being) I locate the 2″ blocks in the greenhouse where they benefit from real sunlight and where they will develop to be transplanted later to pots and then to the growing areas.
All my varieties germinated with at least 3 out of every 4 seeds (75%) except for Big Beef and Brandy Wine, and the Sugar Cherry only has 1 germination tho more are indicated. Here are the vital stats:
Good germination: Beefsteak – American Meadows purchased Jan ’10; Mortgage Lifter – Southern Exposure Seed Exchange Feb ’12; Jelly Bean Hybrid – Ferry-Morse Mar ’13; Yellow Pear – Burpee Signature Mar ’13; Black Prince – Johnny’s Feb ’11; Cherokee Purple – Johnny’s Feb ’11; Rutgers – Ferry-Morse ’10; Georgia Streak – Southern Expos Seed Exchange Feb ’12; Siletz – Peaceful Valley Sep ’10; Sweet Olive – Johnny’s Feb ’11; Cherokee Purple – Botanical Interests Feb ’10.
I notice that the Big Beef which did not germinate is a pelleted seed and this is probably too large for starting in a 0.75″ block. It was purchased in Mar ’13 and I will try again and bury it in a small pot. The Brandywine was purchased in Dec ’08 more than 5 years ago, so the seed is probably no longer viable. The Sugar Cherry was purchased in Feb ’12. Gratifying that tomato seed purchased in 2010 is still viable.
In addition to the old tomato seed, I made 4 acquisitions. I googled tomatoes for the southeast (heat and humidity) and, of the varieties recommended 3 stocked by Johnny’s caught my interest – all are hybrids – Juliet, Big Beef and Mountain Fresh Plus.
My 4th acquisition was Ukranian Purple – I took a pinch from a packet on a table at a seed exchange day hosted by the town of Decatur on National Seed Swap Day on Jan 25. We had a representative from the Seed Exchange present who provided useful tips on saving seed, with a focus on tomatoes. Apparently tomato is largely self pollinating and so long as the varieties are 15 ft apart, the seed saved should be true to variety. The gift of Ukranian Purple,the advice proffered and the challenge, have now resolved me to save heirloom seed this year. And so, instead of a my usual mass tomato planting I will plant the heirlooms in separate groups by variety. The hybrids can be planted together since I will not bother with their seed or, maybe I will.