Eggplant / aubergine seed cleaning

[toad]

Cleaning seeds from eggplant (aubergine)


Applegreen is an eggplant breed for northern climates by Professor Meader of New Hampshire and released in 1964



I tried to save seeds from eggplant a few years ago. I even made a succesfull test of germination same autumn. But in spring there were no more germination. Oh-oh-oh - what an embarrasment, I had been sharing my seeds, and emails started to come in. All polite emails, but I myself was very disappointed and angry with myself. Now I find it more easy to forgive others who had accidents with the seeds they send me.




To do it better this time, I reserved the very first fruit for seeds, even wrote on it, to avoid any mistake at suppertime. Now I have been waiting for this fruit since mid july. Today (October) I decided to cut it open, since it has been all yellow for very long time, and stopped shining for some time.


farm3.static.flickr.com/2370/1507648887_51238080fe_m.jpg [/img]
Scooping out the pulp and seeds into a bowl


Seperating eggplant seeds from pulp in water, just give them a good kneading. Seeds sinks to the bottom whereas pulp float - a nice piece of low technology.

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Washing eggplant seeds thoroughly prevents seeds sticking together.


Drying eggplant seeds on a plate. Now I just have to be patient and wait until they are completely dry before storing in an envelope.

From my blog
toads.wordpress.com/2007/10/07/applegreen-saving-seeds/

[flowerpower]

Thanks for posting this here, Toad. It's very informative.

[bluelacedredhead]

Yes, TY.
FP, just imagine, if we ever get eggplant to grow in sufficient quantity to save seed for more than ourselves, we will know how to save the seed, lol

[ottawagardener]

Thank you for this post! I used a blender for the first time to save tomatillo seeds and I understand that eggplant can be done in the same way. Essentially it's the exact same method just with the whizzing in the middle.

veggiepatchreimagined.blogspot.com/2010/09/wet-processing-seeds-tip-3.html

Good idea about the writing on the fruit

[galina]

Thank you for the instruction. I have only ever sliced them and wiggled the seeds out with my hands. I will try your method next time.

[orflo]

Dec 6, 2010 9:01:44 GMT -5 ottawagardener said:

Thank you for this post! I used a blender for the first time to save tomatillo seeds and I understand that eggplant can be done in the same way. Essentially it's the exact same method just with the whizzing in the middle.

veggiepatchreimagined.blogspot.com/2010/09/wet-processing-seeds-tip-3.html

Good idea about the writing on the fruit

Telsing, be careful here. I once used a mixer to separate the seeds and lots of them ended up broken. I use a wooden mallet nowadays, and hit from all sides on the ripe fruit, I make sure I don't hit too hard, but just enough to turn it into something softer. After that I use the method Toad uses, water them and dry the seeds.

[ottawagardener]

Wacking them sounds more fun than whizzing.

[toad]

OK folks, I just realise I wasn't clear on one thing.
In the water, I knead the cubes by hand. I very quickly done, but necessary to free the seeds.
I've just modified the tutorial on that.

[kermyt]

Very good lesson!

A grater is a very good alternative to the blender... Less aggressive but very efficient!

The fruit look young to extract seeds no..? (the flesh is very clear).

I heard it's possible to finish the ripening ,after the fruit is cut, in the house. The seeds are extract during the winter or very early in spring...