It all started on a summer afternoon, while I was having fresh salad for lunch, enjoying the sunny and peaceful moment; my eyes stared at the juicy cherry tomato in my fork, and I just couldn’t take out of my mind the following questions:
How did this tomato ended up in my plate? How was it born? Where did it come from? How to save tomato seeds in roder to have these tomatoes again?
Now that I’m wirting about it, the answer seems to be very obvious, but at that moment, my life circumstances were different and I had no idea on how to save tomato seeds, and my time and thoughts were mainly focused in the daily routine that big citites usually demand. I just had never asked myself about anything that I was eating, and all of a sudden all my curiosity was obsessed with it. Seeds! Of course, that was the answer! I could see them, I could feel them in my mouth, but how did the tomato actually grow? And what about lettuce? I was not seeing at that moment any lettuce seeds on my salad, just leaves. And then the rest of the ingredients just kept popping in my head, until I was overwhelmed by all these unanswered questions.
I am pretty sure that this was the day my inner gardener decided to thrive, and understood that gardening isn’t just about planting seeds in meticulously prepared soil or tending to flourishing flowerbeds, but a journey of discovery, a connection to nature that starts with something as simple as the seeds from your everyday fruits and vegetables.
That day I decided to keep the seeds of that tomato and put them on a paper towel to let them dry, and began a little experiment to see if I could start my little own garden, determined to learn by experience how to save tomato seeds. The following days I did the same with other fruits and vegetables, keeping the seeds and nurturing my curiosity about how we harvest and preserve plants in the world.
After a couple of weeks, some of the seeds turned into lovely tiny plants, while others disappeared in the soil, making me even more curious about them. If I remember well, I was able to harvest a couple of sweet cherry tomatoes, and the happiness of that accomplishment was an unforgettable feeling, and the most important thing was that I was able to have an idea on how to save tomato seeds. There’s something deeply satisfying about nurturing a plant from its very beginning, especially when it stems from a seed found in your own kitchen. Growing plants from kitchen scraps fosters a sense of connection to the food we eat and the natural world around us. It’s a reminder of the cycles of life and the interconnectedness of all living things.
Ready to cultivate your curiosity and green thumb with kitchen scraps? It’s easier than you think! Start by collecting seeds from fruits and vegetables as you prepare meals. Rinse them thoroughly to remove any pulp or residue, then allow them to dry completely. Once dry, plant them in pots filled with nutrient-rich soil, keeping them watered and cared for as they begin to sprout.
If you have a similar experience, please share in the comments. We are always happy to read our fellow gardeners.