Don't Forget to shake Those Tomato Blossoms!

I've written about this before, but a little reminder won't hurt. Whether avid gardeners or not, most people grow a tomato plant or two, often in pots on the deck or patio. If so, they are finally seeing a few blossoms on their plants and are anxiously waiting for fruit to set. Now's the time for a little assisted pollination on the gardener's part. Why you may ask? First, because if you assist nature you will get those delicious vine ripened tomatoes several weeks earlier than you otherwise would. Second, shaking the blossoms increases the number of seeds in tomatoes and by so doing increases their flavor. Tomato blossoms have both sex organs in the same flower. In nature fertilization occurs when the wind or the wings of a bee shake the flower and distribute pollen from the male stamens to the female stigmas. This is a rather hit and miss situations as you might expect. Later in the season, then each plant has hundreds of blossoms it makes little difference whether you intervene or not; however, early in the spring when each plant only has a few blossoms, assisted pollination can make a big difference. Here's how to do it. Female stigmas are ready to be pollinated when the pedals of the blossom curve upward. Assisted pollination works best if performed in the middle of the day, around noon. There are many ways to accomplish this simple task. If your plants are staked or caged, simply shake the stake or cage. If not, gently strike the blossoms with the back of your hand. If you are inclined to go high-tech, touch each blossom, or group of blossoms, with the brush of a battery operated hand held tooth brush. Anything seems to work! Happy gardening.