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Old June 4, 2014   #1
Cole_Robbie
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
Default Sex Toys as Pollinating Devices

My girlfriend left a few things at my house. I decided to put them to good use.

My high tunnel tomatoes are growing well: http://i.imgur.com/2pjrOaN.jpg But I am not happy with the fruit set.

I made two pollinators. The first is a basically a vibrator on a stick:
http://i.imgur.com/kD0SXU8.jpg
The stick is the handle of a basting brush that came with a set of grill utensils. The brush is rubber and can be removed from the metal handle. I taped the vibrator to the rubber mount so the handle can be easily removed. Having the handle makes it go a lot faster. http://i.imgur.com/sRKsrNf.jpg

The other pollinator is a sex toy called a "micro bullet." They are about $10 on amazon. The one I have is the double bullet: http://i.imgur.com/rIRofVN.jpg If using a vibrating pollinator is supposed to mimic the vibrations of a bumble bee, then this thing is like a bee on a wire. I can't imagine anything resembling a real bee any more closely. The bullet is more fun to use, but it is slower than the stick vibe. It was covered in pollen immediately upon using: http://i.imgur.com/JEGXx9o.jpg I can see the pollen fly when it touches a flower.

I realize electric toothbrushes are the norm to use as pollinators, but they are expensive and have tiny batteries. I think sex toys are more powerful, much more diverse, and a more cost-effective use of battery life.
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