Do I need to hand pollinate chillies (growing indoors) or not?

[dave_100]

I'm planning on growing Thai Dragons, Ring of Fire, and Prairie Fire indoors in the UK next Spring. I've read so much and some documentation says you need to hand pollinate, others say that chillies are self pollinating.

Which is true, and why does there seem to be conflicting information out there about it?

Also if I were to use a small paintbrush should I ensure I use one brush per variety? I assume cross pollination would be a big concern otherwise?


Thanks in advance.

[burnie]

I use a paintbrush, cross pollination is only a problem if you want to save the seed as you won't know what you will get.

[Scarlet]

I only hand pollinate early on in the season. The rest of the time I let them get on with it. You can use your fingers or cotton buds as well as a paintbrush.
And as Burnie has said - cross contamination is only a worry if you want to save seed for the following year. If you did want to save seed you need to isolate the pods to stop this.

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/pepperseedsaving.html

[dave_100]

Thanks, so just once, when the flowers appear? or regularly?

[Scarlet]

If you hand pollinate you pollinate each flower as it opens..

[Small pumpkin]

I usually only hand pollinat ( and isolate ) one flower per variety for seed saving. Have to regularly do this a couple of times to until I get a definite pod forming. Not bothered if the other pods are cross pollinated because there just going to get eaten.

If I just want to help the plant pollinate to produce pods. I just gently shake the plant regularly.

[Scarlet]

Chillies and peppers are self pollinators but at times of stress, early season when there aren't many insects/bees to move the pollen around / incorrect temps etc some helpwill help for more fruit set. Early season you often see a lot of flowers drop so it's always worth a shot.


...and I just use my fingers.

[burnie]

I use a paint brush for my indoor strawberries too, good job the pollen does not change the fruit, Cayenne Strawberries might not hit the right spot lol.

[Mitzi]

I think there are two different things here. Chillies will self-pollinate i.e. you only need one variety (and in fact only one flower) to get pods to set.

However, indoors with no wind or pollinating insects, yes you will need to hand pollinate to ensure that pods set. You can tickle each flower individually with a paintbrush or cotton bud, or just give the plant a shake / tap the branches when you are passing.

People saying they leave them to their own devices later in the season, I think they are talking about in greenhouses / polytunnels where windows or doors are open so pollinating insects can get in and maybe there is a bit of a breeze.

[Scarlet]

People saying they leave them to their own devices later in the season, I think they are talking about in greenhouses / polytunnels where windows or doors are open so pollinating insects can get in and maybe there is a bit of a breeze.

Not for me! I don't bother hand pollinating if I've got a flowering plant indoors over the Summer - I really do let them get on with it.

[Teds Mum]

My chillis all set pods without any interference from me, they were in an unheated greenhouse.

[4Shoes]

I'm planning on growing Thai Dragons, Ring of Fire, and Prairie Fire indoors in the UK next Spring. I've read so much and some documentation says you need to hand pollinate, others say that chillies are self pollinating.

Which is true, and why does there seem to be conflicting information out there about it?

Also if I were to use a small paintbrush should I ensure I use one brush per variety? I assume cross pollination would be a big concern otherwise?


Thanks in advance.

Most of us don't hand pollinate. By what you have said, this would apply to you also. Cross pollination will not be an issue either (unless you plan to save seed) because the fruit you harvest will be true to the variety planted.

However if you were to keep seed, then the following years crops may not be true to the variety.

To over come that, many of us wait for a new flower bud to show and put the bud into a small mesh bag. Once the flower has opened, we remove the bag and hand pollinate and then replace the bag. Repeat daily until the flower starts to wilt. Tie a string round the stalk of the pepper and remove the bad once pod is visible. The seed in this pod will be true to the variety.