Tomatoe

[Pottypotter]

Sorry stupid question, I have my first flowers on my tom plants do I need to polinate them? (In greenhouse)

[potterfanpete]

I don't think they need to be hand pollinated - but this is my first year with them too (and all other veg!) so take that with a pinch of salt! I've heard that some people give the plant a bit of a shake, and others spray the flowers. Hope this helps!

Take care

Pete

[Dobby]

we played with the flowres and it seams to have worked we got toms

[Earthbabe]

I don't have a greenhouse yet so I'm not really in a position to advise but I'd have thought it depends on whether pollinating insects can get in. If not a little assistance, as suggested by Dobby, seems logical.

[Pottypotter]

OK, what do they like to play

[Earthbabe]

Depends on their dexterity, imagination and intellectual ability

[Pottypotter]

I guess catch would be a good one.

[TPeers]

Tag!?

I have never had any notable problems but it won't hurt to mist the plant and/or tap the trusses gently to knock the pollen about.

That said my greenhouse door is left open during the day, so insects can get in and out......

[Pottypotter]

another stupid question, about what temperature do I need to white wash the windows and what do I use to do it?

[Flummery]

I've never had to help toms with pollination. You will need to air your greenhouse by opening lights, door etc to keep the temperature down so you will get insect pollination. I don't white wash my greenhouse windows either - there is an overhead power cable which skims the end of my garden and goes into next door. The birds all alight on the power line and the resulting guano slick is enough to add a little light shading for the summer. I wash it all down at the end of the year of course!

[noidea]

Would shaking the plant be enough if they aren't going to ever be outside? I have to grow mines on a large sunny windowledge and due to having Tasmanian Devil type small children, can't really have the window open often....

[TPeers]

Hi Noidea, might consider a gentle dab around with a soft paint brush in that case. Or let the little horrors climb up.... as if you have much choice!

[noidea]

Thanks! So I should steal one of the kids paintbrushes then and dab the flowers one after the other???

Why is this idea of growing some of our own food so complicated!

Loving it though!

C

[Pippin]

Tomatoes won`t need to be hand pollinated or even helped. If they did it would take an awfully long time with some of those cherry tom plants with their masses of blooms - just leave them to grow - feeding them weekly with a tom fertiliser.

Whitening the green house windows is important. I never used to and found I had problems which I eventually found out was from the intense sunlight. Since doing so my toms are much healthier and productive. I don`t do all the windows, only those that will shade my toms.

Do it when the sun gets high, in late May or early June - I was toying with whitening mine during last month as my toms are about 15" high and could see they were begining to be affected by the strong sunlight we have been having. I took the chance to leave them as things could easily change - which they just have for the moment.

I use `Coolglass` which can be bought from most garden centers. It is best sprayed on, will not be washed off by rain and will last all season. It will clean off in the autumn - I use an old loo brush or some such thing and a power washer.

Pippin

[libbyloulou]

i gow an apple tree about 6 yrs old in front of my leanto, full of toms, and keep that tree trimmed to suit the tree and the shade for my greenhouse, as the weather improves, my tree growes better, provides more shade,everything benifits, i think.