Hand pollination Lefblower Study UMD

[Guavatone]

I know there’s been a bunch posted on hand pollination, but I found this in my search that some may find interesting.

https://extension.umd.edu/sites/exte...le_2016_03.pdf


I have pretty low pollination going on on my lower branches which may be normal. It’s hard for me to buy into an electric toothbrush being much different from hand shaking and tapping,

I just did some flowers with a q-tip back and forth from the flower petals to the anther. But this may be wrong. I think I should have brushed from the middle of the anther to the end, which is the stigma. Right?

Maybe just whip out the darn leaf blower and call it a day

-Charlie

[Nematode]

Thanks for that.
Looks quite promising.
I can't control the bumbles, but have a leaf blower and know how to use it.

[GrowingCoastal]

My mother-in-law, in her youth, was in the Land Army in England during WW2 and worked in a greenhouse where they used feathers on the tomato flowers.

[arnorrian]

I use a battery coffee mixer I got for 2$. I cut of most of the mixing wire. It does a great job imitating bumblebee's vibrations.When you touch a flower from the back it often coughs out a blast of pollen. And it's quick, as you don't have to touch every flower, just their shared truss.

[Guavatone]

A milk frother?

[arnorrian]

We call it the instant coffee mixer.

[Guavatone]

Cool. I have a brookstone think like that, advertised as a frother. But it’s a moot point. I have myself a bee simulator tool.

You just removed the round spiraled wires?

[arnorrian]

I left a short stubble of about 2 cm.

[amideutch]

Here is a do it yourself vibrator one of our members built from scratch

Ami

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...ight=bumblebee

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by amideutch

Here is a do it yourself vibrator one of our members built from scratch

Ami

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...ight=bumblebee

I really miss that guy.

[Guavatone]

Thanks Ami. I’ve read quite a few of your informative posts here already. I’m a n electronics nerd so maybe i’ll Try that design. I guess the plus is that it’s telescoping and can reach high flowers. My recent flower shakes have dropped some blossoms . Heat maybe?

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Guavatone

Thanks Ami. I’ve read quite a few of your informative posts here already. I’m a n electronics nerd so maybe i’ll Try that design. I guess the plus is that it’s telescoping and can reach high flowers. My recent flower shakes have dropped some blossoms . Heat maybe?

Yes it is heat and as for me I have yet to see any scientific proof that these vibrating things work in extreme heat.
At least not here in the heat of Texas.
What I mean by proof is control groups and everything.

What I have seen is different varieties have different temperature ranges they set fruit in.
Not growing Mortgage Lifter this year was a big mistake big time.
One of the few larger tomatoes that seem to set fruit in higher temperatures.

[Guavatone]

Good insight worth. 2 of my main survivors from seedlings are Russian ones Moskvich and Cosmonaut volkov, which may do better come fall. The Mexican Midget (not sure if has anything to do with Mexico). But if it does makes sense that it’s getting the usual 5+ fruits per branch. Maybe next year i’ll Do some “heatwave” varieties for good measure. Or maybe go with good ole local Rutgers varieties.

[whoose]

I have two small portable fans on timers that blow 12 hours a day, I believe that this is about same as the leaf blower. Am I correct?

[amideutch]

Guavatone. Here is a link to the one I built.

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...ight=bumblebee

Ami