Why You Care About Pollination for Tomatoes
Let me tell you—if you’re growing tomatoes and not thinking about pollination, you’re missing a big part of the puzzle. Tomatoes need their pollen to move from the male part (anther) to the female part (stigma). Outside, the wind and insects like bees usually do the job. But sometimes, nature needs a little help.
What Happens If Pollination Doesn’t Work?
Ever seen tomato flowers blooming like crazy but no fruit shows up? That’s a blossom drop. It happens when pollen doesn’t move right. You can fix that. I’ve done it many times—just hand pollinate the flowers and help nature do its thing.
Can Tomatoes Do It on Their Own?
Yes, tomato flowers have both male and female parts, so they can self-pollinate. But here’s the catch:
- No wind? Common if you’re growing indoors or in a greenhouse.
- No bees around? Could be due to pesticides or a lack of pollinators.
- Too humid? Pollen sticks together.
- Too dry? Pollen won’t stick at all.
That’s when I step in and pollinate them myself.
Want to keep your tomatoes healthy and stop fruit from splitting? Check out guide on preventing tomato splitting.
When You can Hand Pollinate Tomatoes
The sweet spot is late morning to early afternoon, when the flowers are fully open. Don’t bother if:
- There’s dew or rain on the flowers
- It just rained
- It’s too hot and dry outside
Pick a warm, dry day. I usually repeat the process for a few days—it really helps.
My Step-by-Step Method for Hand Pollinating
Step 1: Choose Dry Flowers
Only touch flowers that are dry. Wet pollen won’t go anywhere.
Step 2: Move the Pollen
Here’s how I do it:
- Finger Tap Method: I gently flick the base of the flower. Works well in outdoor gardens.
- Pencil or Cotton Swab: I lightly brush the inside of the flower. This is perfect if I only have a few plants.
- Electric Toothbrush: I hold it near the flower’s back and let it vibrate. This copies the way bees pollinate. I use this when I’m indoors or in the greenhouse.
- Fan Method: I set up a small oscillating fan to blow gently across my plants. It works great when I’ve got a lot to cover.
Step 3: Repeat for 3 Days
Yes, I do this every day for three days. It gives each flower a better shot at turning into fruit.
Not sure when your tomatoes are ready to pick? Here’s how I harvest my tomatoes.
How You Know Pollination Worked
Good signs:
- The flower petals dry up and fall off in a day or two
- A tiny green tomato starts forming at the base
Bad signs:
- Flowers drop but no tomatoes grow
- No swelling at the base of the flower
Want More Bees in Your Garden?
- I plant flowers like marigold, lavender, and borage
- I skip the harsh pesticides
- I leave a shallow bowl of water out for bees and butterflies
Improve Airflow
- I shake the plant stems gently
- I use fans indoors
- I space my plants at least a foot apart
Confused about your plant type? I explained the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes here.
Flowers But No Fruit? This Might Be Why
Hot weather can mess with pollen. If it’s above 90°F during the day or above 75°F at night, pollen may go sterile. I’ve had this happen in my own garden.
Here’s What I Do:
- Put up shade cloth
- Water early in the morning
- Use mulch to cool the soil
Use Hand Pollination for Breeding
If you like experimenting like I do, hand pollination helps you breed new tomato varieties. You move pollen from one plant to another and grow something unique.
Dr. M. Ozores-Hampton once shared this tip: Pick parent plants that always grow true-to-type. That way, your hybrids turn out the way you expect. Check out his guide
Final Thoughts
Look, I’ve been doing this for a while—and hand pollination works. It’s easy, and you don’t need fancy tools. Just use your finger, a brush, or a little breeze. Give it a shot and watch your tomato harvest improve. Seriously—you’ll thank yourself later.
