This is a frequent discussion over on the Growing Tomatoes forum here not to mention on all the Exchange forums, and it depends on the trader and what their goals are so it is negotiated in advance. As long as your seeds are labeled properly as pure or OP then no one can complain. Most who trade actively, if the variety is of particular importance to them, will bag blooms, label their seed as such, and only accept those that were bagged and labeled as true/pure. Some traders don't care all that much and are willing to accept possible CP seeds as long as it is labeled as such - open pollinated. Where folks tend to get upset is if they are offered seeds labeled as a specific variety but NOT marked as open pollinated. If saving for yourself it is your choice. If heavily trading and high quality is a concern for you then bag blooms and ask for the same. Another issue in trading is if the seeds were disinfected or not and labeled as such. Dave Here is a link that might be useful: FAQ - How to prevent cross pollination

I received the seed box in the mail today!!! I haven't had a chance to go thru it this afternoon -- but I will tomorrow when I get home from work! I cant' wait to see what's in there :) Thanks to all the original members who participated in the tomato seed round robin -- ya'll were awesome :) Just to let everyone know -- we'll be starting round 2 soon and we'll be adding new members to the round robin. If you're interested, please check back on this message thread in a day or so and I'll get the details for the signups posted. Thanks again to everyone who participated in the 1st round! The round robin went so smoothly and was definitely a success! Judy

I use fermentation regardless of batch size. On the drying table right now are 30 little seeds from a variety I found growing by the road. It was one 2 inch round bright red globe - nearly perfectly round. I also just finished packing over 800 Cherokee Purple seeds from one batch. (Trudi!!!?? :>) -) I cut the larger tomatoes into thick slices and using the point of a very sharp knife, carefully cut the seed gel masses away from the meat of the fruit and into a strainer. The strainer is above a container which catches the juice. This allows me to put the remainder of the tomato into the dehydrator. The seeds which are still in the gel mass are then gently scrubbed against the screen of the strainer enough to break up the globs and catch more juice. Breaking up the globs like this, I feel gives the little "microbe critters" a head start, a thinner gel to dissolve, and a much better chance of getting their job done. I also think we have to stir the mixture often during fermentation to further help break up gel around the seeds. Several tap water rinses get rid of all the debris and a 4 to 1 water/bleach rinse followed by more rinsing until I don't smell the bleach finishes the chemistry part. I spread them on a paper plate (cheapest, flimsiest) and after 2 to 3 days take a credit card size piece of plastic and gently loosen the seeds that are still gently stuck to the plate. 2 more days and into small ziplocks and a coin envelope marked with the variety and the date saved. I don't think I care for the TSP or AJAX or Comet or other scouring cleaners. It's because I just don't like even the "possibility" of damaging the seed coat. Having said that, I DON'T KNOW that the grit WILL damage the seed coat, but until time proves differently, I choose to think the possibility is there. Good tomatoes are hard enough to grow. For me, damaged seed coats would be like starting the race with an unnecessary, self-imposed handicap.

Seysonn I am just posting here to keep this at the top. Tormato's swap is linked on the second post in this thread. He has a long list of favorites that people want. You have to read that thread to see what he is doing. Last year was the first time I have ever entered a round robin; it was fun. He is a very funny, mild, patient fellow and I am glad he is doing this for us. It is lots of work for him; I would get it all mixed up.