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Grittyville, WA

Some have theorized that the seed contains or is coated in its own beneficial biology. I don't know if this is true.

It might be an interesting experiment to see if bleaching or peroxiding the seeds gave better or worse results, first in terms of germination, and also later on in terms of fruit production/plant health??

Probiotics/prebiotics... I have no set opinions about it, so I thought I'd ask you all.

10/28/2025 11:43:38 PM

Colorado

I've never sterilized

10/28/2025 11:48:58 PM

Warwood

I know in the past I have sprayed seeds with 10% bleach a few times. Since they didn't look so healthy and to prevent disease. This was lightly from a mist bottle. I've also soaked the seeds briefly in very diluted liquid kelp which seemed to work as well. I wonder if the right dilution of H peroxide would do well.

10/29/2025 4:51:41 PM

Tomato Nirvana

Oops, wrong user account.

[Last edit: 10/29/25 10:22:12 PM]

10/29/2025 10:18:02 PM

San Diego, CA

I've also read people use OxiClean to melt off the gel coating, instead of using the common fermentation process. I have never tried it and don't plan to. Seems counter productive to me.

I'll continue to experiment with various seed soak cocktails, just prior to putting them into the germ chamber. No proof yet, but I feel this offers some benefits.

10/29/2025 10:23:06 PM

Grittyville, WA

I haven't had luck with the chemical stripping so I've been fermenting them. I know the acetobacteria are not harmful. But sometimes there are other kinds of rot on the tomato.

[Last edit: 10/31/25 9:08:10 PM]

10/31/2025 9:07:29 PM

Colorado

It a sick twisted curiosity to see what kind of mold, slime, etc. I get in the fermenting seeds. :))

11/1/2025 9:27:13 PM