Whats the best tomato polinator?

topic posted Sat, June 2, 2007 - 8:53 AM by  Dale
cherrie tomatoes!! Love 'em and am attempting my first grow. All input will be appreciated! I need to know how to get more flowers.
I was told there is some kind of "polinator" spray that makes the plants make more tomatoes. Any ideas?. Oh, and yes, I am using "The
Force" on them, however these are a "Sith" variety! Hee-Hee, Ha, Ha!

Genuinely, JediDale


posted by:
Dale
Tampa Bay Area
  • Re: Whats the best tomato polinator?

    Tue, June 5, 2007 - 8:59 AM
    never heard of "polinator spray" but a tomato pollenator would more than likely be a bee or fly of some type, so to encourage them might encourage more fertilized fruit from your flowers....using "the force" to welcome them would probably work; they do not fear star wars nerds as far as I know.
    I do know that too much Nitrogen in the soil will reduce flowering...so don't use high N fertilizer.
    • Re: Whats the best tomato polinator?

      Wed, June 6, 2007 - 8:01 AM
      On that note, bees are attracted to flowers so you could plant some in and around the tomatoes. I've always planted marigolds with my 'maters, they're good for pest deterrent.

      snort. star wars, indeed.
  • Re: Whats the best tomato polinator?

    Thu, September 20, 2007 - 10:54 PM
    There are many bugs that love to pollinate tomatoes. Depends on your location. Bees not so much. But several different flies (Diptera types) are all over them.
    You don't need to spend money of sprays to attract pollinators. Just plant flowers also. Look for some sites on companion planting. That stuff always slipps out of y head so I don't know which to suggest. Marigolds, calendula, carrots, peppers...cilantro, stuff like that.

    Use a fertilizer for blooms and fruit. I use a 6-30-30 on my garden after things are grown in. Too uch nitrogen will put the plant to vegetative growth.

    Also you can pinch back the tips of the branches to encourage more ends, and thus more flowers.

    Watch the watering and soil moisture. If the soild gets too wet you will have real problems. But if it drys out too much you will get bad growth. The watering will make the difference.
  • Re: Whats the best tomato polinator?

    Wed, October 3, 2007 - 12:54 PM
    Try underplanting your tomatoes with allysum . It's a fave of Hoverflies which are good pollinators and their offspring anhialate aphids. The allysum itself makes a nice living mulch helping to retain soil moisture , reduce soil splashing onto the tomatoes foliage during hard rains and the flowers look and smell awesome!

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