urbantomato

How to Save Tomato Seeds

So, Here is a photo demonstration of how i save my tomato seeds step-by-step.

Step #1 - Start with ripe, healthy tomatoes

Step #2 - Cut them in half

Step # 3 - Squeeze liquid including seeds, into a jar

Step # 4 - Let ferment for 4-7 days. (pictured bel0w)

Step #5 - Fill the jar containing fermented seeds with water. The seeds will sink to the bottom, and mould float to the top.

Step #6- Pour off top layer of mould and water. Do not pour out seeds.

Step #7 - Fill Jar with Water again. Let seeds settle.

Step #8 - You may have to repeat Step #6 & 7 a few times until all that remains is clear water & seeds.

Step # 9 - Strain the Seeds

Step #10 - Let dry on a suspended screen for at least one week

I dry mine of a re-claimed baking rack. It works perfectly!

Preserving Tomatoes!

Slightly chilly nights are the perfect times to spend in the kitchen preserving your hard work!

oven dried tomatoes coming fresh out of the oven, and on a pretty plate

tomato juice, tomato paste & oven-dried tomatoes

Tis the season for seed saving! I will be updating tips on how to collect and save your seeds over the next month ... Here's a photo of a seed saving workshop I recently hosted at the Lift Lock Community Garden. I am showing folks how to harvest arugula seeds. .... I am always too busy to take photos, so I am glad that someone did!

Gardens Not Lawns

My perennial garden & I are honoured to be included in Mr. Brown Thumbs 'Gardens Not Lawns' slideshow! - Check it out!

let the canning begin!!

i pickled my lovely beans & carrots. i love the sound of freshly canned jars lids popping

gardens mid august

first tomatoes!

gorgeous greens of detroit dark red beets

there was a tonne of filipendula in the garden, so i didn't weed it out & now its blooming & adding a really nice addition to the beauty of the garden. i even have some lupins blooming late in the garden

i can see the beauty little orca beans creating dimension in their pods

the view of the garden from the back. hard to capture just how much is growing in their in a wide shot

funky hot peppers <3 p="p">

black-eyed susan's & yellow beans growing happily together

lots of alma paprika's ripening. mmm smoked paprika

mid august harvest!

my seed garden is really starting to produce. picked my first tomatoes & peppers! lots & lots of beans too

Gardens growing in early August

yellow pear tomatoes getting ready to ripen

alma paprika's are abundant! nice & yellow, but need to wait until they're red!

paste tomatoes taking shape - opalka's & striped caverns

This has been an incredible year for beans! here's my orca's, greens, purples & yellows growing happily

Cucs! And Jalapeno's

squash. unfortunately this plant is now under attack from squash borers & this might be the only fruit it get from it ....

beautiful beet greens

tonnes of future zucchini's

Green Beans!

I just picked a super large bag of green beans from my small row in my community garden. It is only just the beginning too! Better get my pickling station set-up!