Hummers and Tomatoes

[Starlight]

I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to all the ins and outs of tomato plants, but as far as I know the flowers only make pollen, right?

The reason I ask is because I have hummingbird feeders up and one that hangs by tomatoes. I have for days now watched the hummers be all up in my tomato plants and they are going to feed on the blossoms too. It's not just my plants. Same thing happening with neighbors and their tomato plants.

I know the hummers eat tons of sketters, other protein bugs and tons of necatar plants, but does anybody happen to know, do they eat pollen? Craziest thing I ever saw. They will hang on the tomato strings, fight and hide all through the plants too.

They have fits at me when I scout my plants or feed them their ferts.

[AlittleSalt]

I have hummingbird feeders in our garden and beside a raised bed. I've never seen them doing anything with the tomato blossoms. However, there is lots of reading here https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...omato+blossoms

[Starlight]

Found out they are getting up in there for thrips for themselves and their young. Anybody interested can read my post here:

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...735#post565735

[GrowingCoastal]

Today I noticed a hummingbird checking out a truss of tomato flowers. Not a regular thing to see them on tomatoes at all. I have seen them inspect the tips of other plants before any blossoms show and wonder if they might also eat aphids. They are out bugging morning and evening when the insects are out. Just like when fish bite as the insects come out.

Hummingbirds do like to sit on the wire cages. The one was sitting under cover on a cage today, hiding, ready to fly at any intruders in the hot lips salvias a few feet away.

[Gardeneer]

I have seen HB just once so far this year. I wonder how much energy they have and get from a tiny flower and hum around all the time.
No wonder why they are so skinny and their peck is bigger than their body.

Gardeneer

[MissS]

I have noticed hummingbirds using my tomato blossoms for years. Yes it is said that they are going for the insects that are also using the flowers. They also enjoy perching on the cages and taking in the view.

[Starlight]

Originally Posted by GrowingCoastal

Today I noticed a hummingbird checking out a truss of tomato flowers. Not a regular thing to see them on tomatoes at all. I have seen them inspect the tips of other plants before any blossoms show and wonder if they might also eat aphids. They are out bugging morning and evening when the insects are out. Just like when fish bite as the insects come out.

Hummingbirds do like to sit on the wire cages. The one was sitting under cover on a cage today, hiding, ready to fly at any intruders in the hot lips salvias a few feet away.

I probably wouldn't have noticed them in the tomatoes, but I enjoy sitting out by them and just spending time watching them come and drink and fuss and fight each other. heck they fuss at me everytime I need to scout or water.

Usually I have spiders all over my maters, but they must be eating them except for the daddy long legs cuz I can't hardly find one this year on the plants. I had a bunch of newly hatched assasin bgs hatch and they gobbled them up.

Not sure about the aphids. I did read on one site that they eat them. I noticed some aphids down in my Iris fans and haven't seen them going to those plants at all.

I just wish they would eat flea beetles. I scout twice a day and have been hand killing them, but I don't want to let the population explode as they will destroy everything. So far the hummers have been doing a good job on other pests, so I haven't had to use any kind of chem at all. Don't want to posion them.

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

I have seen HB just once so far this year. I wonder how much energy they have and get from a tiny flower and hum around all the time.
No wonder why they are so skinny and their peck is bigger than their body.

Gardeneer

Sometime when you get a chance, look up about them. The amount of food they eat is unreal. I forget now how many beats per minute their little hearts pump, but if ours did that we would be having a heart attack.

I have three different types of hummers here. The one I feel so sorry for is the one whose beak does almost look longer than its body. I have feeders with a raing they can perch on and rest a second. The long beaked poor thing has to try and slurp up some syrup and then lift its head to swallow. It has to take its time to get a drink.