Do you need bee pollan to pollanate tomatoe plants? a urgent answer is requested big dispute w/ friend need to
Question:if no bees pollante your tomatoes will tomatoes not grow need to know exactly how bee pollanation plays key role in growing a vegtable garden.Thank you..saphire047@yahoo.com
Answers:
Tomato plants produce perfect flowers, that is that they have both male & female parts. Tomato plants do not need bees or any other insect to pollenate their flowers (carry the pollen from the stamen to the pistil). Pollenation is primairly done via wind and vibration. The pollen produced in the male stamen is dislodged by wind and vibration and drops on to the female pistil resulting in fertilization.
Here is Washington State University's explanation: "Tomato flowers come complete with both male and female organs and are self-fertilizing. Pollen is shed with great abundance between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on dry, sunny days. Normally, the wind will pollinate the flower sufficiently. To ensure better pollination, gently shake or vibrate the entire tomato plant. The best time to do this is midday when it's warm, and the humidity is low. Optimum fruit set occurs within a very narrow night temperature range of between 60° F and 70° F. When tomato plants experience night temperatures lower than 55° F or above 75° F, interference with the growth of pollen tubes prevents normal fertilization. The pollen may even become sterile, thus causing the blossoms to drop. High daytime temperatures, rain, or prolonged humid conditions also hamper good fruit set. If the humidity is too low, the pollen will be too dry and will not adhere to the stigma. If the humidity is too high, the pollen will not shed readily. Pollen grains may then stick together, resulting in poor or nonexistent pollination.
Have you ever wondered why large-fruited tomato cultivars are sometimes "catfaced" but not the small-fruited ones? This is due to a failure of complete fertilization of the ovule. The larger fruit demands more complete fertilization. This is not a disease but a physiological disorder.
For further infomation contact your local WSU Extension Office.
From The Gardener, Vol. 6 No. 2, Summer 1995
Holly Kennell, WSU Extension agent, King County"
I believe bee pollination is necessary to pollinate any plant unless you do it manually. With a q-tip, etc
No, there are many ways a plant can pollinate. You can pollinate the plant yourself, the wind will do it, other bugs, etc. Bees aren't specifically needed to pollinate vegetation.
Honey Bees are perfect pollenators. On a given day, they only pollenate one thing, be it tomatoes, honeysuckle, beans or whatever. They are the best, but other insects can pollenate your tomatoes. I've more often than not found small bumble bees to be the ones on my tomato blossoms. Any insect can pick up pollen on their feet and move it from one place to another. So you wouldn't actually NEED honey bees, but they would be preferred. If you have no insects pollenating, your plants will bear little to no fruit.
An easy way to pollinate is simply use a paintbrush or feather duster. Simply lightly touch the flowers and then move to another. Wont take that long on a few plants.
Buy tomato plants at Dunscar Garden Centre.
http://www.dunscar.com/
There is not such thing as "bee pollen". Bees pollinate, but they don't produce their own pollen if that is what you are meaning. However, if you are asking if only bees can pollinate tomatoes then the answer is no. Tomatoes can be pollinated by a variety of insects and not just bees. You can even pollinate them yourself with a q-tip by gently swirling the q-tip inside each flower. Pollination is just the transfer of pollen from male to female parts.
Essentially, yes. In fact, if you grow different varieties of heirloom tomatoes nearby, you are best off not saving those seeds to replant next year, only because the bees may have mixed the genetic material of the fruit you get.
Hybrids are mostly sterile...
YES YOU DEFINATELY CAN.when a tomato plant starts blooming, you simply go outside and gently shake the whole tomato plant for about 5 seconds..this will pollinate them I do mine all the time check out my veggie garden on page 11 of the link below...is my flickr photos..the large view you see of the garden tomatoes are the one in the back ..standing 6 foot high..and fruit out well..
you do not need bees you can play bee get an artist paint brush and move pollen from one flower to another
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