by You can collect the seeds of your favorite eggplants yourself. This will save you money and time searching for the right variety, which can disappear from sale at any moment. In addition, this gives you the opportunity to conduct a small selection and select the best fruits from the most productive bushes for seeds.
If you collect seeds from your vegetables every year, you probably know that not all fruits are suitable for this purpose. We are talking about hybrids obtained by crossing two different varieties. On the packets with such seeds there is a designation F1 or F2 (F is from the Italian filli – children), that is, these are first or second generation hybrids that have the best qualities of the parent varieties.
If you sow seeds collected from hybrids, they may grow eggplants that are not like those you had. Of course, you can experiment, but for reliability, it is better to collect seeds of proven varieties that give a stable harvest and are adapted to the growing conditions in your region.
Step 1: Select the fruits
To obtain seeds, leave several large lower fruits on strong and well-developed bushes that correspond in appearance to the variety. During the ripening period of eggplants, feed the plants with an infusion of wood ash or a complex fertilizer with a high content of potassium and phosphorus (Kristalon Orange, Agricola for tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, Agromaster 3.11.38+4, Plantafid 5.15.45, etc.). Leave the fruits on the bushes until they are fully ripe.
Try to leave not one, but several fruits of each variety for seeds, since during the ripening process on the bushes, some eggplants may spoil or be damaged by slugs.
Step 2. Place the fruits to ripen
In the fall, before the cold weather, when the ripened eggplants have been hanging on the bushes for several months, cut them and put them to ripen at room temperature for at least a month. During this time, the fruits will wither, wrinkle slightly, acquire a brown tint, and the seeds will fully ripen.
The longer the eggplants are left, the higher the germination rate of the seeds will be.
Step 3: Cut the eggplants
Cut the dried fruits lengthwise. You will see that the seeds have acquired a dark shade and have become very hard.
Step 4: Extract the seeds
There are several ways to do this. The first is to use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and drop them into a container of cold water.
The second method significantly speeds up the process of obtaining seeds. To do this, lower part of the fruit into a bowl of water and use your fingers to extract the seeds from the chambers. It is very easy to extract seeds from overripe pulp. Heavy, well-ripened seeds will immediately sink to the bottom, and particles of pulp and empty seeds will remain floating on top.
Step 5: Rinse the seeds with water.
Drain off anything floating on the surface: pieces of pulp and defective seeds. Then pour water over the seeds again, stir, and drain. Repeat the procedure several times until the seeds are clean.
When there are no particles of pulp left in the bowl, strain the seeds through a sieve and rinse again under cold running water.
Step 6. Lay out to dry
Place the seeds on a cloth napkin in a warm place with good air ventilation. Leave for 5-7 days until they are well dried.
Step 7: Store the seeds
Place the dried seeds in a paper envelope, bag or canvas bag. The material must be breathable. Label the variety, date of collection and store in a dry place with an air temperature of 10-18°C and humidity no higher than 60%. The higher the temperature and humidity, the lower the germination rate of the seeds.
At a constant storage temperature, eggplant seeds retain good germination for three to four years. If you do everything right, even from one fruit you can get a large number of seeds, which will be enough for sowing for several years in advance.
