Separating Seeds Stuck Together? - Page 2

**Lee** · September 17, 2014

I have found that 5" clear plastic plates do the best.
Seeds don't stick at all to the plates and they are reusable for many years. (I've had some of mine for 7+).
For particularly large quantities of seed, the dried, clumped mass pulls up as a whole and then a few seconds of rubbing through your fingers separates them all very easily.
A small funnel allows quick transfer into the small glass vials that my seeds are stored in.

Lee

joseph · September 17, 2014

It seems to me, that seeds sticking together is only a problem on seeds that haven't been fully fermented. I dry previously fermented seeds on wax-coated paper bowls, then crumble the resulting lump between my fingers and they are done. There are very few, if any, stuck together seeds. And if there are, I'd plant them that way. My fermentation process tends to take weeks or months because it's not in my character to hover over a project waiting to finish it at the earliest possible second.

Barbee · September 17, 2014

I use wax coated paper plates labeled and then once dry, I crumble the clump in my fingers to loose them and into the envelope they go. When I am counting out seed to send or getting ready to plant and I see two stuck together I just slip my fingernail between then and split them.

AlittleSalt · September 17, 2014

I am drying mine on Hefty foam plates. They have a flowery design on the edges and come 40 per pack instead of the plain white ones the are in 50 packs. The reason for explaining the details is the one's we buy have a thicker shiny surface.

Then I gently used my fingers to separate the tomato seeds the day after putting them on the plates. Gently wasn't easy to do with size 14 ring fingers.

FarmerShawn · September 18, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

Or, to save one more step -- write the seed data on a piece of blue painter's tape, stick it to the fermentation container (I use half-pint caning jars), then peel it off the container and stick it to the edge of the paper plate you'll dry them on. Then when the seeds are dry and you move them to their storage container, peel the tape off the plate and re-use it to dry the next batch of seeds. And since I usually buy coated paper plates, I simply turn them inside out for seed drying.

My variation on this is to use Post-it notes to write the variety and any other information (taste, production, etc) on. Then I use scotch tape to stick the note onto the fermentation cup, which peels off easily to be stuck onto the paper plate for drying. When really pressed for time, I've even peeled the note off the plate and stuck it to the coin envelope for temporary storage until I have time to organize things.
Shawn

AKmark · September 19, 2014

I have been using a plastic fork. I pick up rinsed wet seed, in small amounts, with the fork, and then drag the fork on top of my drying pad, the seed does not come off, all in one spot. I then take the fork and use a single prong to separate the seeds. My thinking is that separating them before drying, makes drying more even, and certainly faster.

bower · September 20, 2014

Ditto on the plastic fork or spoon/ handle - best rustling tool for wet seeds that I've found, although I sometimes use a popsicle stick - but the wet seeds tend to stick to them as they get soggy.

I found these foolish 'ruffled' dishes at the dollar store which are perfect for seed drying - they double the surface area around the rim. I use my rustling tool to push the seeds up into the valleys or onto the ridges to dry. The porcelain dish is 'slippery' so no sticking problems there, but the wet seed will stay on the slopes well enough. For convenience I do 5 seeds to a valley or ridge, which makes them easy to count for any batch up to 200 seeds. More than that, it gets a bit congested...
For labelling I get a coin envelope ready, write the name on it and the number of seeds and prop it in the dish. Having a seed count ahead of time keeps me up to date as to whether I have saved enough or not.

Yep I have sure thought about outsourcing to China.

Can't help thinking about the 'handling time per seed' and how much that costs in real terms... but it's a labour of love.

ChristinaJo · September 21, 2014

Very decorative seed drying!

loulac · September 21, 2014

Letting them ferment long enough will prevent them from sticking too much.
Spreading them on a paper plate will help, you'll just have to rub clumps between your fingers before they are completely dry. Not a problem once you've got the hang of it.
good luck for the end of your crop !

September 17, 2014	#16
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,185	I have found that 5" clear plastic plates do the best. Seeds don't stick at all to the plates and they are reusable for many years. (I've had some of mine for 7+). For particularly large quantities of seed, the dried, clumped mass pulls up as a whole and then a few seconds of rubbing through your fingers separates them all very easily. A small funnel allows quick transfer into the small glass vials that my seeds are stored in. Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

September 17, 2014	#18
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	I use wax coated paper plates labeled and then once dry, I crumble the clump in my fingers to loose them and into the envelope they go. When I am counting out seed to send or getting ready to plant and I see two stuck together I just slip my fingernail between then and split them. __________________ *Barbee*

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September 17, 2014	#17
joseph Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Cache Valley, N/E of The Great Salt Lake Posts: 1,244	It seems to me, that seeds sticking together is only a problem on seeds that haven't been fully fermented. I dry previously fermented seeds on wax-coated paper bowls, then crumble the resulting lump between my fingers and they are done. There are very few, if any, stuck together seeds. And if there are, I'd plant them that way. My fermentation process tends to take weeks or months because it's not in my character to hover over a project waiting to finish it at the earliest possible second.

September 17, 2014	#19
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I am drying mine on Hefty foam plates. They have a flowery design on the edges and come 40 per pack instead of the plain white ones the are in 50 packs. The reason for explaining the details is the one's we buy have a thicker shiny surface. Then I gently used my fingers to separate the tomato seeds the day after putting them on the plates. Gently wasn't easy to do with size 14 ring fingers.

September 19, 2014	#21
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	I have been using a plastic fork. I pick up rinsed wet seed, in small amounts, with the fork, and then drag the fork on top of my drying pad, the seed does not come off, all in one spot. I then take the fork and use a single prong to separate the seeds. My thinking is that separating them before drying, makes drying more even, and certainly faster.

September 21, 2014	#23
ChristinaJo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: NE Texas Posts: 425	Very decorative seed drying!

September 21, 2014	#24
loulac Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: France Posts: 554	Letting them ferment long enough will prevent them from sticking too much. Spreading them on a paper plate will help, you'll just have to rub clumps between your fingers before they are completely dry. Not a problem once you've got the hang of it. good luck for the end of your crop !