Pepper question

DoubleJ · June 15, 2009

Do peppers pollenate like tomatoes where if I flick the flowers or shake the plant it'll pollenate itself?

Are eggplants the same?

velikipop · June 15, 2009

Don't know about eggplants, but peppers are self pollinators. Shaking will help pollination.

Alex

WVTomatoMan · June 16, 2009

Eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes are considered self-fertile, and self pollinating plants. However, studies have shown that bumble bees lead to increased yeilds. So, the argument arises if they're really self pollinating they shouldn't need any external sources to increase fruit set. For now let's leave that to the scientists debate.

To answer your question directly yes shaking the plant or flicking the flower can increase fruit set.

I have performed an experiment on tomatoes. The plant was indoors and air movement was kept to a minimum during the formation of several flower formations. The result was poor fruit set. Then I turn a fan on the plant and flicked the clusters. The result was very high fruit set. I suspect I would see similar results if I performed the experiment on peppers and eggplants.

Good luck.

Randy

June 15, 2009	#1
DoubleJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 127	Pepper question Do peppers pollenate like tomatoes where if I flick the flowers or shake the plant it'll pollenate itself? Are eggplants the same?

June 15, 2009	#2
velikipop Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 768	Don't know about eggplants, but peppers are self pollinators. Shaking will help pollination. Alex __________________ I'll plant and I'll harvest what the earth brings forth The hammer's on the table, the pitchfork's on the shelf Bob Dylan

June 16, 2009	#3
WVTomatoMan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West Virginia - Zone 6 Posts: 594	Eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes are considered self-fertile, and self pollinating plants. However, studies have shown that bumble bees lead to increased yeilds. So, the argument arises if they're really self pollinating they shouldn't need any external sources to increase fruit set. For now let's leave that to the scientists debate. To answer your question directly yes shaking the plant or flicking the flower can increase fruit set. I have performed an experiment on tomatoes. The plant was indoors and air movement was kept to a minimum during the formation of several flower formations. The result was poor fruit set. Then I turn a fan on the plant and flicked the clusters. The result was very high fruit set. I suspect I would see similar results if I performed the experiment on peppers and eggplants. Good luck. Randy