Seed saving bleach rinse

jmsieglaff · February 26, 2014

Just curious to most people's practices regarding the 4 parts water/1 part bleach rinse to saving tomato seeds post-fermentation. Do you or do you not? Or only if you have a reason to?

Doug9345 · February 26, 2014

Some do and some don't. There was a fairly recent discussion about it. THis one is older but gives links
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=12140

I guess the thread wasn't as recent as I thought. It seems the older I get the quicker time seems to pass.

But here it is.
http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=29710

Worth1 · February 26, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug9345

Some do and some don't. There was a fairly recent discussion about it. THis one is older but gives links
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=12140

I guess the thread wasn't as recent as I thought. It seems the older I get the quicker time seems to pass.

But here it is.
http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=29710

Doug we need to go at the speed of light so time will slow down.

Worth

Darren Abbey · February 27, 2014

I do so, but I'm not too precise about the bleach:water ratio or the time soaking (I use, "a few minutes"). I follow the soak with a water rinse, then spread the seeds on a plate set in front of a fan to quickly air-dry them. Once thoroughly dry, they get peeled up with tweezers and put into a storage vial.

The seeds retain a bit of bleach (by scent) on their surface, which seems to inhibit fungal growth. I've only had a problem once when I accidentally let the seeds soak overnight. Those seeds didn't ever germinate.

goodwin · February 27, 2014

I use 1 part bleach to 5 parts water and soak the freshly fermented seeds for a minute or so. They fizz a little and the color of the seed lightens. I give them a thorough rinsing.
Germination is not affected with a brief soaking. I assume disease transmission is reduced, so it seems like a good precaution.
Lee

kurt · February 27, 2014

http://thechillifactory.com/ In thier germination video they have a novel way of using baby bottle disinfectant as a treatment for seeds.

MB3MB3 · February 27, 2014

is anything like H2O effective?
anyone ever used tea tree oil (diluted) or other essential oils with similar properties?

Doug9345 · February 27, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by MB3MB3

is anything like H2O effective?

I assume you mean H2O2 Hydrogen Peroxide. Other that the problem of making sure it hasn't deteriorated I'd guess it is similar to bleach. I haven't seem any comparative
research published about the various methods. That doesn't mean there aren't any.

How is seed prepared in bulk where are producing seed by the pound?

marc_groleau · February 27, 2014

Can seeds be treated just prior to sowing or must it be directly after fermentation?

MB3MB3 · February 27, 2014

i have also wondered this.
I also wonder if the same applies to "wet" squash seeds.

kurt · February 27, 2014

In the #6 post from me above the video shows the grower treating the seeds one day before planting.Makes sense to me to ferment after season ending seed gathering and another treatment at start up.Is there a chance that some fungas,spores etc.remained on seeds and lay dorment for the next years plantings?Why not do a sterilization before your seasons planting regimen?For me I would say yes since I live in a very humid,hot,fungas/spore laden enviornment at the the southern tip of Florida.Northern growers have the freezing winters to "kill/sterilize/control"some of the maladys that effect us down here.So I give my seeds a "bath"before germination starts each year.

Growing Giants · February 28, 2014

Marc asked:
Can seeds be treated just prior to sowing or must it be directly after fermentation?

It only makes sense to treat the seeds twice, the first time after fermentation to rid the seeds of slime and prepare them for drying and storage until a later need and secondly just prior to germination as you eliminate wrongful bacteria prior to germination and you prepare the seed hull to separate from the cote's once germinated.

jmsieglaff · December 12, 2014

I completed a germination test (placed seeds in a moist paper towel in a ziptop bag) of my all saved seeds from 2014, including tomatoes, peppers and squash. All tomato seeds were fermented. Squash and pepper seeds were just cleaned and rinsed. Tomato seed germination was good and seeds free of mold. The pepper and squash seeds had mold growth. So I'll be treating the peppers and squash seeds with a bleach/water soak before sowing this spring. Just wanted to share.

KarenO · December 12, 2014

I don't see the need. The fermentation process followed by a good rinsing cleans the seeds which is why I use that method. Not all mold is harmful, in fact many fungi are beneficial, the fermentation process relies on fungi. I would not worry about a little mold showing on a paper towel around seeds that are test germinated. There would be fungus around the germinating seed in potting mix, you just cant see it.
I am not saying it does any harm to use bleach, I just don't think it is needed or particularly helpful in most cases so you can save yourself the trouble I think.
KarenO

February 26, 2014	#1
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	Seed saving bleach rinse Just curious to most people's practices regarding the 4 parts water/1 part bleach rinse to saving tomato seeds post-fermentation. Do you or do you not? Or only if you have a reason to?

February 27, 2014	#4
Darren Abbey Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 586	I do so, but I'm not too precise about the bleach:water ratio or the time soaking (I use, "a few minutes"). I follow the soak with a water rinse, then spread the seeds on a plate set in front of a fan to quickly air-dry them. Once thoroughly dry, they get peeled up with tweezers and put into a storage vial. The seeds retain a bit of bleach (by scent) on their surface, which seems to inhibit fungal growth. I've only had a problem once when I accidentally let the seeds soak overnight. Those seeds didn't ever germinate. Last edited by Darren Abbey; February 27, 2014 at 01:58 AM.

February 27, 2014	#11
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,489	In the #6 post from me above the video shows the grower treating the seeds one day before planting.Makes sense to me to ferment after season ending seed gathering and another treatment at start up.Is there a chance that some fungas,spores etc.remained on seeds and lay dorment for the next years plantings?Why not do a sterilization before your seasons planting regimen?For me I would say yes since I live in a very humid,hot,fungas/spore laden enviornment at the the southern tip of Florida.Northern growers have the freezing winters to "kill/sterilize/control"some of the maladys that effect us down here.So I give my seeds a "bath"before germination starts each year. __________________ KURT Last edited by kurt; February 27, 2014 at 02:33 PM.

February 26, 2014	#2
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	Some do and some don't. There was a fairly recent discussion about it. THis one is older but gives links http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=12140 I guess the thread wasn't as recent as I thought. It seems the older I get the quicker time seems to pass. But here it is. http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=29710

February 27, 2014	#5
goodwin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Espanola, New Mexico Posts: 606	I use 1 part bleach to 5 parts water and soak the freshly fermented seeds for a minute or so. They fizz a little and the color of the seed lightens. I give them a thorough rinsing. Germination is not affected with a brief soaking. I assume disease transmission is reduced, so it seems like a good precaution. Lee

February 27, 2014	#7
MB3MB3 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 22	is anything like H2O effective? anyone ever used tea tree oil (diluted) or other essential oils with similar properties?

February 27, 2014	#9
marc_groleau Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 444	Can seeds be treated just prior to sowing or must it be directly after fermentation?

February 28, 2014	#12
Growing Giants Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Missouri Posts: 77	Marc asked: Can seeds be treated just prior to sowing or must it be directly after fermentation? It only makes sense to treat the seeds twice, the first time after fermentation to rid the seeds of slime and prepare them for drying and storage until a later need and secondly just prior to germination as you eliminate wrongful bacteria prior to germination and you prepare the seed hull to separate from the cote's once germinated.

December 12, 2014	#13
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	I completed a germination test (placed seeds in a moist paper towel in a ziptop bag) of my all saved seeds from 2014, including tomatoes, peppers and squash. All tomato seeds were fermented. Squash and pepper seeds were just cleaned and rinsed. Tomato seed germination was good and seeds free of mold. The pepper and squash seeds had mold growth. So I'll be treating the peppers and squash seeds with a bleach/water soak before sowing this spring. Just wanted to share.

December 12, 2014	#14
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,922	I don't see the need. The fermentation process followed by a good rinsing cleans the seeds which is why I use that method. Not all mold is harmful, in fact many fungi are beneficial, the fermentation process relies on fungi. I would not worry about a little mold showing on a paper towel around seeds that are test germinated. There would be fungus around the germinating seed in potting mix, you just cant see it. I am not saying it does any harm to use bleach, I just don't think it is needed or particularly helpful in most cases so you can save yourself the trouble I think. KarenO