How tomatoes are pollinated in a greenhouse: basic methods

The yield of tomatoes depends on the quality of pollination. In the greenhouse, tomatoes have to be manually pollinated. Several methods are used, creating natural conditions for the formation of tomato flowers.

Specificity of tomato pollination

Tomatoes are a self-pollinating crop. With proper development and timely top dressing with potash fertilizers tomatoes form a sufficient number of buds, a lot of pollen is created in the flowers.

Natural methods

One plant in the open field with the help of wind currents and insects exchanges pollen with several neighboring ones. During the flowering period of tomatoes, for free air circulation, greenhouse doors and vents on the roof and walls are opened, automatic ventilation and watering are turned on in modern polycarbonate structures.

• To attract insects for pollination, pots with honey flowers are introduced into the greenhouse or a row of rape is sown, coriander, mustard, basilica.
• A container with sugar syrup or jam is hung near the entrance, luring bees and bumblebees.
• Blooming tomatoes are sprinkled with sweet water.
• Families of bees and bumblebees are purchased or rented.

Insects are also attracted for tomatoes that are grown on balconies.

Gardeners plant basil near tomatoes and marigold to improve the taste of the fruit.

What conditions need to be created?

Tomatoes are pollinated qualitatively if there are certain conditions for this process.

1. Favorable temperature. In a cool summer, tomatoes can create little fruit ovary, since at night temperatures below 13 ^°With the deformation of the anthers occurs - accordingly, the properties of the pollen deteriorate. An increase in air temperature in closed greenhouses from 30 ^°C. The grains become unviable and do not create fruit ovaries. If the heat rises to 40 ^°C, buds and flowers partially fall off.
2. Air humidity. Without ventilation after irrigation, the humidity can exceed 70%. In this case, tomato pollen sticks together and does not spread to other flowers. At the same time, flowers fall off when the air is too dry. The optimum humidity for pollination is 65-70%.
3. Sunny weather. Pollination of tomatoes occurs mainly in warm weather, when the sun is shining. During rain or long periods of cloudy weather, natural humidity rises.

How to maintain a favorable microclimate?

The gardener is able to create favorable conditions for pollination of tomatoes in the greenhouse:

• airing;
• maintaining a comfortable temperature for tomatoes;
• decrease or increase in humidity in the room;
• fertilization with potash preparations;
• the use of stimulants.

In the simplest film shelter, it is necessary to open the entrance doors and raise the canopy on the other side. In modern designs, sliding walls or a special system of vents for air circulation are provided. The increased temperature is reduced by ventilation. To increase moisture, the ground is watered. Mulching will retain moisture, and watering will need to be done less frequently.

It is best to ventilate greenhouses in the morning, as pollen forms at night.

How to increase the level of pollination?

After the beginning of flowering, the results of natural pollination are viewed. If the flower petals are curved towards the sepals, the process has taken place. The ovary is already ripening. A large number of flowers with straight petals is a signal to move on to the next stage. In order to ensure a greater percentage of pollination, this procedure is carried out manually in greenhouses.Artificial methods are used in the state of the atmosphere that is favorable for natural pollination: on a sunny morning, from 8:00 to 10:30. Such methods are also effective at home when tomatoes are grown on a windowsill or in closed loggias.

• Shaking

They approach each plant and slightly shake the flower brushes, the ropes with which the trunk is tied, or the whole bush. When airing, the pollen is taken up by the air and deposited on other flowers.

• Artificial breeze

With the fan running, they pass along the rows, creating a stream of air for the distribution of pollen.

• Brush draws fruit

They take a soft paint brush from a stationery store and do the work of an insect carrying pollen from one flower to another. Gently collect pollen with a brush and touch the pistil of another flower. The more flowers such a "bee" will fly around, the more abundant the harvest will be.

• The second life of a toothbrush

The same operation can be done with an old toothbrush. A used electrical appliance is also useful for this purpose. It is kept on over the flowers, the vibration encourages the movement of the pollen. The method is laborious, it is better to use it for tomatoes on the windowsill.

After manual pollination, the soil in the greenhouse is watered or lightly sprayed with tomatoes. After 2 hours, the room is ventilated. Watering is needed to increase humidity in order to create the necessary conditions for pollen to germinate. Tomatoes are pollinated by similar methods 2 times a week. For greater efficiency, different methods of artificial pollination are used.

Use of drugs

Several types of substances have been created that act at the cellular level on plants, contributing to the direction of vitality to the formation of buds and ovaries.

• 10 g of boric acid are diluted in 10 liters of hot water, tomato bushes are treated with a cooled solution after manual work. Boric acid is used three times: in the phase of bud formation, blooming of the second and third inflorescences and the creation of ovaries.
• In strict accordance with the instructions for the preparations, stimulants are used to increase the number of flowers and ovaries: "Bud", "Tomaton", "Ovary", "Gibberros", «Parthenocarpine Bio ". After using them, you may not need manual pollination.
• Tomato inflorescences are sprayed with Novosil when the first three brushes bloom.
• Exuberant flowering of tomatoes guarantees the use of the drug "Zircon".

A set of measures for the successful cultivation of tomatoes, which includes watering, feeding, observing the humidity and temperature regime, manual pollination, will bring an abundant collection of fruits. The yield of tomatoes in a greenhouse is 2-3 times higher than in an open field. Caring for care will add a significant addition to the family table.