pollinate tomatoes in greenhouse?

[Green Giant]

Does anyone know about which plants need artificial pollination in a
greenhouse?
I have tomatoes, bell peppers, trying a cucumber vine, etc, I have a
8x10 inch vent in the wall, bees could find it possibly, there is also
access all the way around the bottom of the greenhouse (4" gap"). I had
a spray a few years ago for tomatoes for indoor growing. Can I
pollinate tomatoes with a Q-tip? How is this done (using other plants)?
can I tell the difference between a male and female plant? There must
be a lesson in "the birds and the bees" concerning gardening, takes me
back to middle school ;o)
Thanks for any help,
Mr. Planter

[sockiescat]

Green GiantDoes anyone know about which plants need artificial pollination in a greenhouse?
I have tomatoes, bell peppers, trying a cucumber vine, etc, I have a
8x10 inch vent in the wall, bees could find it possibly, there is also
access all the way around the bottom of the greenhouse (4" gap"). I had
a spray a few years ago for tomatoes for indoor growing. Can I
pollinate tomatoes with a Q-tip? How is this done (using other plants)?
can I tell the difference between a male and female plant? There must
be a lesson in "the birds and the bees" concerning gardening, takes me
back to middle school ;o)
Thanks for any help,
Mr. Planter


here u go hope this helps u some. here is a thought for u try using an electric toothbrush to do the job:). there are some people who use large fans in the greenhouse to get the pollen moving. good luck, sockiescat.
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/communications/publications/agmag/Archive/2005/Winter/Pollinating+Greenhouse+Tomatoes+with+Vibrators+Blo wers+Bees+fail+in+small+operations.htm

[Jan Flora]

In article om>,
"Green Giant" > wrote:

> Does anyone know about which plants need artificial pollination in a
> greenhouse?
> I have tomatoes, bell peppers, trying a cucumber vine, etc, I have a
> 8x10 inch vent in the wall, bees could find it possibly, there is also
> access all the way around the bottom of the greenhouse (4" gap"). I had
> a spray a few years ago for tomatoes for indoor growing. Can I
> pollinate tomatoes with a Q-tip? How is this done (using other plants)?
> can I tell the difference between a male and female plant? There must
> be a lesson in "the birds and the bees" concerning gardening, takes me
> back to middle school ;o)
> Thanks for any help,
> Mr. Planter
>

I just tap on the main stem or gently shake the plant once or
twice a day, for tomatoes. Same with bell peppers and cukes.

With a vent in the wall, the bees will probably find your plants.

For hand pollination, a little artist's paintbrush works well.

You must be up north, if you have to grow all of the warm
weather crops in a greenhouse...

Jan, in Alaska

--
The way to a man's heart is between the fourth and the fifth rib.

[Mindful]

"Green Giant" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Does anyone know about which plants need artificial pollination in a
> greenhouse?
> I have tomatoes, bell peppers, trying a cucumber vine, etc, I have a
> 8x10 inch vent in the wall, bees could find it possibly, there is also
> access all the way around the bottom of the greenhouse (4" gap"). I had
> a spray a few years ago for tomatoes for indoor growing. Can I
> pollinate tomatoes with a Q-tip? How is this done (using other plants)?
> can I tell the difference between a male and female plant? There must
> be a lesson in "the birds and the bees" concerning gardening, takes me
> back to middle school ;o)
> Thanks for any help,
> Mr. Planter
>

Use a small artist's paintbrush to daub at each blossom. Go from flower to
flower as a bee would do. That should get plenty of fruit to set.

[Green Giant]

that was a good article. thanks. When using vibrator method, what
really happens? does the pollen from the above blossoms fall to the
ones below? They are on the same plant so wouldn't they all be male? Or
all female?
BTW, for the Alaskan who asked, I am north of Seattle and we get good
enough weather to grow tomatoes but by the time they ripen, the whole
plants are usually eaten up by blight so a greenhouse is about the only
way to actually get to eat the fruit.
Happy growing, thanks for anyone who can explain pollination
further.....
Green Giant