Sun shine

augiedog55 · June 16, 2015

My question is,my plants have alot of blooms on them right now. The temperatures are right to set fruit ( 60s night-80s daytime) but its been cloudy for two weeks. Does the lack of sunsine affect the pollination process if the temperature are right. normally they get around 8 hrs of full afternooon sun
Thanks

digsdirt · June 16, 2015

Generally no, even cloudy days are filled with ultraviolet light. But possible effect, yes. Air temps isn't the only factor in pollen viability. Humidity is just as important. So if the long period of cloudy days results in excessively high humidity then it can affect the viability of the pollen.

Have you tried any of the many tricks used to increase pollination under less than ideal conditions? Finger-flicking blooms, rattling cages, electric toothbrushes, etc. Sometimes, with luck, they can help.

Dave

augiedog55 · June 16, 2015

Thanks for your response.. I have been doing all of the things including flicking ,shaking, and toothebrush.. and some praying..lol I'm hoping they starting setting some fruit

Gardeneer · June 16, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by augiedog55

Thanks for your response.. I have been doing all of the things including flicking ,shaking, and toothebrush.. and some praying..lol I'm hoping they starting setting some fruit

Most probably you don't need to do any of those things. In outdoors condition a gentle breeze can work fine. I have seen tomatoes set and grow in hidden places.
But we think that our action is going to make a difference. That is fine too.
CASE IN POINT:
The other day I saw several fruits set on Indigo Rose, way down, a few inches from the soil, hidden under the foliage. I certainly did not do anything.
The number of pollens on a given flower is countless and they are so close to the female parts. The probability of all those pollens missing, sounds very very slim.
JMO

Direct Sunlight · June 17, 2015

I had a Great White tomato that was my first to bloom this year. It was drowned by the excessive rain we got though. I'm interested to see if any tomatoes can do without as much sunlight as usual. This year it's been little, or bright and hot. Overall the tomatoes are a month behind where they'd usually be this year, as far as size goes anyway. Last year I had to break out the cages near the end of April. It's now mid-June and haven't used them yet.

June 16, 2015	#1
augiedog55 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: oak grove mo Posts: 406	Sun shine My question is,my plants have alot of blooms on them right now. The temperatures are right to set fruit ( 60s night-80s daytime) but its been cloudy for two weeks. Does the lack of sunsine affect the pollination process if the temperature are right. normally they get around 8 hrs of full afternooon sun Thanks Last edited by augiedog55; June 16, 2015 at 12:56 PM.

June 16, 2015	#2
digsdirt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: No.Central Arkansas - 6b/7a Posts: 179	Generally no, even cloudy days are filled with ultraviolet light. But possible effect, yes. Air temps isn't the only factor in pollen viability. Humidity is just as important. So if the long period of cloudy days results in excessively high humidity then it can affect the viability of the pollen. Have you tried any of the many tricks used to increase pollination under less than ideal conditions? Finger-flicking blooms, rattling cages, electric toothbrushes, etc. Sometimes, with luck, they can help. Dave __________________ Dave

June 17, 2015	#5
Direct Sunlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: N. Texas, Zone 8A Posts: 79	I had a Great White tomato that was my first to bloom this year. It was drowned by the excessive rain we got though. I'm interested to see if any tomatoes can do without as much sunlight as usual. This year it's been little, or bright and hot. Overall the tomatoes are a month behind where they'd usually be this year, as far as size goes anyway. Last year I had to break out the cages near the end of April. It's now mid-June and haven't used them yet. __________________ "Sure it grows where you are, but..."