Post by Tom Wagner on May 14, 2011 23:08:59 GMT -8
How much TSP and chlorine do you use.
Denice.....As little as possible and still do the job. Certainly with one single tomato fruit...I don't need much...with just a few seed in the strainer I sprinkle just enough TSP as if from a modified salt shaker that is labeled TSP, rubbing the chemical granules against the seed and strainer. It sometimes only takes a fraction of a minute to dissolve the gel around the seed and get into the oils, waxes, etc., surrounding the seed. Sometimes I set the seed, water and dissolved TSP in a cup to act without the abrassion. A 120/123 F. bath of water helps in the cleaning process...TSP works best at these temps anyway.
Once that seed is further processed by floating off the water and empty gel sacks, poor seed, trash, etc....the good seed at the bottom of the water container is then is soaked with just a splash of chlorine bleach...I don't measure...and watched for the inevitable bleaching that tells me when to rinse in more 120 F water. I suppose it is close to one part chlorine to 4 or 5 parts of water. I rinse the seed in the strainer under the faucet water to make sure all the chlorine is gone and do a final 'float pou' to make sure nothing but good seed is left. Drying on printer paper with notes is my final job.
I should soak the seed in the hot water treatment for up to an half hour but most of the time I hurry it up.
I
have only started saving seeds since 2009 up until then all my seed was purchased from the big seed companies. I have concerns about introducing diseases to my garden via seed. Your method of saving seeds makes sense to me.
It makes sense? That's a new one! But since this forum is strongly focused on subjects that center on my breeding work...I try to make public awareness a primary concern.