Yep – it’s getting cooler – it means that tomatoes - from now on – will slow down. Seeing bumblebees will also slow down and disappear it might be a good idea to harvest your own tomato seeds for next year’s crop.

Note: Do not expect any miracles from the seeds found in F1 Hybrid varieties! They are unlikely to come “True to type”. In fact: it will be surprising how different the off-spring can be! F1 Hybrids are cross-pollinated plants with two very different “parents”. F1-s are bred to get an incredible vigour and superior yield. If you like certain F1 Hybrids: just purchase them and you’ll know what you’re going to get next year.

The so-called “Open-Pollinated” varieties are the ones that will give you a good chance of getting your favourites (such as Tigerella, Black Krim, Thessaloniki and all the “heirlooms”). 

This year I got some really nice tomatoes from a birding mate in Te Anau: It’s called Gardeners Delight. Open-Pollinated, juicy and sweet and the size of a rather large cherry tomato

This became my project for 2025-2026 season;

First of all I will try to grow plants from my current harvest

Second: I will buy a packet of Gardeners Delight from Kings Seeds as comparison with my own seed

Thirdly – if you’re lucky – I may send you some seeds as well, Jack! 

Cut the fully-ripe tomatoes open and scoop out the seeds.

Put them on some kitchen paper to remove as much of the sticky pulp as possible

“Fully Ripe” is NOW, before it gets too cold

Chuck the seeds in a strainer/colander under cold water to get most of pulp off the seeds – and dry them all over night; I usually try to clean them again the next day to remove even more of the sticky stuff. 

Then dry the seeds for two days on paper towel (out of direct sunlight)

Pack the seeds in paper envelopes and store in cool, dry area till sowing.

If you are in an area with relative humidity, it might pay to add some Silica Gel in the envelope to absorb the moisture and keep the seeds viable for a few years