Tom flowers with no fruit - hand pollination ?

[Bagpuss]

Morning Grapes

I've noticed that this year alot of my tom flowers appear to be dying off with no fruit developing behind the flower. Bee activity in the garden this year has also been fairly low due, I suspect, to the weather.

Should I be helping the plants along by hand pollinating ? If so, which method have you had success with? I've seen all manner of ways to do this, from using a brush, flicking and shaking.

Along the same lines, my chilli plants (kept indoors) have flower buds appearing. I've only ever grown chillis outdoors, however, due to the weather this year, I'll be keeping this batch indoors. Should I be hand pollinating these when the time is right ? Again,which method works best ?

Thank you !

BP

[chris]

The cone is sealed, so you can't pollenate via a brush. Tap / flick the stems - it'll release the pollen inside the cone which will then reach the required parts..

Bees help to pollenate by the vibrations caused by their wings (said to be the exact frequency to cause the pollen sacks to rupture or something?).

[Two_Sheds]

The temp needs to be pretty warm for chillies & toms to produce fruit ~ mine are very behind this year,as are everybody else's I suspect

[Bagpuss]

Should I hope for a late flurry then TS?

[Aberdeenplotter]

nope, pray

[Mr Bones]

Pollinate your chillies from flower to flower with a paintbrush or your finger tip when the pollen is falling (usually middle of the day).