Newbie with a question

[socalgardengal]

Hi, I was wondering if someone could please tell me how to keep tomatoes from cross pollinating. Any suggestions would be great! I currently have Jaune Flamme, Delicious and Pomodoro growing with 4 sets of leaves. Just want to be prepared. Thank you so much

[Doug9345]

For the most part cross pollination between tomatoes is low. The number I see batted around is 5%. I assume that you want to save seed. If you don't it doesn't matter. I don't know what you have for bees and other such insects where you live. If the population is low I'll bet you get almost no cross pollination.

[Simone]

Oh
you could use pieces of mat (these for warming the plant) which you wrap softly around the flowers.

Or you could use socks (these nylons). Personally i use pieces of mat but i read in a german gardening forum of good experiences with these nylons.

Simone

[Doug9345]

One of the common materials to bag blossoms that are insect pollinated is Tulle.

[carolyn137]

http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/t...852004159.html

Above is a link to a FAQ from GW which I think is one of the very best around when it comes to knowing about X pollination and I've linked to it here at TV many times.

Cleverly it's titled How To Prevent Cross pollination.

I'm sure it will help.

Carolyn

[socalgardengal]

Thank you very much for the advice, I would like to try a few unusuals I've
never heard of and want to save seeds. I don't get too many bees around here so hopefully it shouldn't be a problem. I thought that maybe the wind would carry the pollen,lol.

[socalgardengal]

Thank you for the responses. I am going to start a few OSU seeds and wanted to save seed for mext season if all goes well. So I could just use tulle that I have already and put around a few blossoms. Great!
Thank you for the link as well Carolyn, very informative!

Hobby shops carry little tulle bags with drawstrings that are used for some purpose at weddings. I don't know what their actual purpose is, but they do a good job of bagging blossoms.

The wind does a pretty good job of aiding pollination in my garden by shaking the blossoms, but since each blossom is self pollinated, I don't think wind is much of a factor in cross pollination. I would think the best preventative is plenty of separation between plants.

I usually try to save seed from the first few tomatoes to ripen on a vine. Since the fruit set was early in the season, most pollinators haven't emerged.

Ted

[socalgardengal]

What a great tip Ted, thank you!

Your welcome! I'm just glad you didn't ask for more details about how the little bags are used at weddings. I do tomatoes well. I do not do weddings well. My only two functions ever performed at weddings was stand up straight without passing out at the first and write checks at the second. Beyond that, I know nothing.

Ted

[Father'sDaughter]

The bags are often filled with candies and given to the guests as favors. Every time my parents went to a wedding when I was growing up, they would bring home a couple of the little bags filled with Jordan Almonds.

[carolyn137]

To "bag" a tomato means to cover the blossoms before they open. Various materials can be used. Some use floating row cover, others use tulle (bridal veil fabric), pieces of nylon stockings, sheer tricot or other lightweight fabric, or bridal favor bags. Depending on the size of the bags used, the bags must be monitored and removed after pollenization so that the tomato can grow to full size without restriction. After removing the bag, mark the fruit with yarn or a string to identify it when it has reached proper maturity for saving seeds.

..... from the link I gave above which does discuss tulle bags and other physical ways of helping to prevent X pollination.And does show a picture of a bagged blossom.

I really do think a quick read thru of that link would be useful for many concerned about X pollination.


Carolyn

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

The bags are often filled with candies and given to the guests as favors. Every time my parents went to a wedding when I was growing up, they would bring home a couple of the little bags filled with Jordan Almonds.

Jordan Almonds! I haven't thought of them in many years,,,,,,. I love them. Can you buy them outside of a movie theater? I refuse to pay five dollars for a little box with more air in it than almonds.

Ted

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by tedln

Jordan Almonds! I haven't thought of them in many years,,,,,,. I love them. Can you buy them outside of a movie theater? I refuse to pay five dollars for a little box with more air in it than almonds.

Ted

Sure can buy them outside of a movie theater.

http://www.nuts.com/

That's where I buy all my cashews and peanuts and have for many years. Superb service, call one day before noon and delivery the next day, at least where I live.

There are other places where you can buy them as well, but I love the above company.

Carolyn

Thanks Carolyn,

Thats a nice link. I'll have to order me some Jordan Almonds. $5.99 for a full lb. of them is much better than $5.00 for a tiny box of air with a few almonds in it.

My wife eats a lot of baked almonds and I eat a lot of pistachios. We buy ours in bulk at a very select outlet, Sam's Club. I also like cashews but I don't enjoy munching on them as much as I enjoy pistachios. I also like macadamia nuts but I feel I am eating an equal amount of butter when I eat them. We use a lot of walnuts and pecans in baked goods.

Ted