Electric Toothbrush for Polinating???

[mercedesguy]

Hello Everyone!
Just figured out how to post and have been itching to get some questions answered:
First, has anyone had experience with the 'vibrating' type toothbrush held next to a tomato flower to increase pollination?
Is this not a good idea or even necessary?
Thanks from Mercedesguy.

[joseph]

I really like it first thing in the spring, when there are only a few tentative flowers on the plants. Seems to help with early fruit set. Later in the season, there are so many flowers that I don't care.

I use an adult toy instead of a toothbrush. I'm currently using it to collect pollen from flowers to do manual cross pollinations.

[mercedesguy]

I like your brand of humor Pal.

[Cole_Robbie]

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=32735

[Gardeneer]

I am using electric tooth brush for the first time too.
I will find out what difference it will make.

Gardeneer

[AlittleSalt]

Joseph, I have never had to do that, but you have inspired me to try something different to make my relatives and friends look and ask... WTF? Thank you. I don't even care if it works.

[jmsieglaff]

I got a kid's spinning soft headed toothbrush on clearance this winter for $2. It worked like a charm when I put it on the flower trusses, I could see the pollen falling out of the flower. I know it worked well because I used it on a couple of indoor grown micro dwarf tomatoes this winter, it set fruit like crazy. Without the toothbrush I doubt it would have set fruit so well given the lack of wind and movement of plants indoors.

Are they necessary for outdoor grown tomatoes, unless you have noted a problem with fruit set, I doubt it. But if you want to collect pollen it would be very useful.

[NarnianGarden]

Yes, electric toothbrush works and I have been doing it for a couple of years to improve the fertlization. Good results!

[pingman39]

Our Oklahoma wind usually does the trick for me (all outside plants). My question is, how early do I want to set fruit? I have had plants that set fruit early and the vines did not grow as big as some others therefore, did not make as much fruit in the long run. Am I not feeding properly. Also, I have read that some people pinch the first blooms of the season off to get better plant growth.

[jhp]

I've been using a toothbrush on tomato flowers for 4-5 years. Here is a slow motion video I did, linked below. It seems like a very long time for each flower, but it's not, and for the purposes of the video, I held the brush on each flower for 5 seconds or less. In real life, I only hold it on each flower for a second or two.

Seems like it is better fruit set with the toothbrush. I grow outdoors and I just take all of the help I can get.

Jen

https://vimeo.com/44286909

[jmsieglaff]

Great video! Thanks for sharing!

[Mick7607]

You can accomplish (or assist) pollination also by gently shaking your cage or stake. Best time of day to do this is midday. I do it daily with great results.

[aclum]

Hi.

I loved the video too ! I've been using the electric toothbrush on the tomatoes for a few years now and it does seem to help.

I've been wondering about the timing though. Is there any harm in vibrating an unopened or partially open bud whose pollen might not be ready for release? Can you dislodge immature pollen by early vibration or will it stay put until it's fully developed. I wonder because so often there are many blossoms in various stages of development on single trusses. And also I have a tendency to go up and own the rows vibrating any bit of yellow I see (sometimes saying to myself "bless you my child" as I vibrate each cluster ).

Anne

[maxjohnson]

Adult toy to pollinate? That's a new one.

I grow outside so I just let the wind and flies handle it. Sometimes I just tap on them.

[AlittleSalt]

I agree Max. It's so windy here that nature takes care of itself.