BYC gardening thread!!

[hippiestink]

This is my first year growing tomatoes so I honestly had no idea what I was doing. We had some old wire fencing that I bent into cages and they seem to be doing really well. I have two determinate and an indeterminate. I decided to go with Roma VF, Indigo Rose, and Black Sea Man. Does anyone have tips in preventing cross-pollination? I'd heard that using muslin bags around the flowers works to preserve heirloom purity but I want other ideas.

 

[A-K-A]

Tomatoes are the "gateway" garden plant. I space my plants apart by but i don't get to concerned about cross pollinating. I maybe wrong and i f i am someone will quickly tell us so. I think covering the blooms will discourage the pollinators(bees) to reach the flowers. I am enjoying tomatoes this season of several varieties and only spaced them apart. No mutant freaks. Good luck with them.

 

[lazy gardener]

tomatoes are super easy. I believe that I've read that they are most apt to self polinate. Simply a breeze shaking the plant will dislodge the pollen. So, if they are grouped according to breed, you should be ok. You can also use a paint brush, or simply pluck one blossom, pull the petals off it, and use it to pollinate the flowers, then mark those to save seed. Personally, If I was growing an OP variety, and wanted to be assured of purity, I think I'd set it apart a bit, and just save the best fruit for seed. It would also be wise to not only save the best fruit, but save seed from the best plant and the earliest plant to set fruit. Love saving seeds. It's one more step forward in being self sufficient, and independent of the pocket book suckers.

 

[hippiestink]

Separation isn't really an option (The soil is just too poor downstairs so we have them in square foot beds on the terrace) but I'll try the pollenation techniques you mentioned @lazy gardener

 

[hippiestink]

We're growing root veggies like potatoes and radishes in the majority of the downstairs plot (if you look at this thread I explain what's up) but next year should be perfect for growing tomatoes. Thanks for the advice.

 

[jerryse]

This is my first year growing tomatoes so I honestly had no idea what I was doing. We had some old wire fencing that I bent into cages and they seem to be doing really well. I have two determinate and an indeterminate. I decided to go with Roma VF, Indigo Rose, and Black Sea Man. Does anyone have tips in preventing cross-pollination? I'd heard that using muslin bags around the flowers works to preserve heirloom purity but I want other ideas.

Most tomatoes self pollinate . Muslin bags would work . I have seldom had cross pollination . This is due to the flower's design . The pistil seldom extends past the petals insuring self pollination . However some varieties do expose the pistil . These cross pollinate readily . You only need a few bagged fruit for seed . I have tried to cross on purpose but failed . The stuffing tomatoes ( hollow like a bell pepper ) are bad for crossing . Never cared much for them anyway . I use concrete reinforcing wire for cages . Comes in a roll like fence . Had some left over from a concrete project .

 

[hippiestink]

I use concrete reinforcing wire for cages . Comes in a roll like fence . Had some left over from a concrete project .

I think that may actually be what we have. It's a rectangular lattice right? We used a ton of it as a temporary fence when we got our pup and now I use it for any project around the house that needs fencing or caged (chicken isolation, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc).

 

[MeatTheFlockers]

Most tomatoes self pollinate . Muslin bags would work . I have seldom had cross pollination . This is due to the flower's design . The pistil seldom extends past the petals insuring self pollination . However some varieties do expose the pistil . These cross pollinate readily . You only need a few bagged fruit for seed . I have tried to cross on purpose but failed . The stuffing tomatoes ( hollow like a bell pepper ) are bad for crossing . Never cared much for them anyway . I use concrete reinforcing wire for cages . Comes in a roll like fence . Had some left over from a concrete project .

I agree with jerryse. Tomatoes are in fact self-polinating. A breeze, shaking the stems, electric toothbrush, all suffcient in aiding in pollination. Most flowers are pollinated before the cone on it actually opens. With that being said, natural crosses do happen but are very seldom IMO. At least not as often as one would think. Its not worth the effort to me. If you are not in an area with heavy pollinating insect traffic, and you harvest seeds from multiple fruits (reducing the number of possible crossed seeds), I think you would be fine. Muslin or Tulle bags would cetainly work if you were that concerned about it though.

 

[hippiestink]

Thanks all for the advice. I'm not all that concerned if the majority of tomatoes are self-pollenating. It's a rooftop garden and we've only gotten one bumblebee up here so far this season.

 

[hennible]

Wow yeah lots of great tomato info