5 Ways To Hand Pollinate Tomatoes for Great Success!

[@Lady_Jewels]

FYI: The instructions actually start at 5 minutes

[@jasminesmith9127]

Thank you girl

[@BarryAdams777]

THANK YOU!

[@timcheng8165]

thanks!

[@geoffandchrisb9663]

That really helps! Thanks

[@RobertKonigsberg]

@@geoffandchrisb9663 I came here to also write that I had to scrub forward five minute for the content advertised by the title. But mine will be lost in a sea of comments, yours had 99 thumbs, and now 100.

[@shivanigonde9198]

I used the brush method 🖌️ for hand pollination and today I see two tiny baby tomatoes 🍅. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom. Keep up the good work! 😃

[@waltergonzalez5405]

Luke just gave us the proverbial Birds and the Bees talk. Respect!

[@ck-sh6zj]

Thank you for all of your great information. I had the most successful garden last summer mainly due to your watering videos. Last summer was super super hot so I watered my tomatoes daily with confidence.

[@jennyjarrett1208]

I constantly throughout the growing season go out and shake my tomato and Pepper plants, mostly. I also talked to them. Lol thank you great video.

[@commonsense504]

I discovered a very simple way to pollinate my indoor tomatoes. Everyday or as new flowers appear I have been putting a little Bluetooth speaker up against the bottom of the stalks and play a couple tunes for each. The vibrations have done an excellent job and so far I've had 100% of my flowers start turning into tomatoes after a day or two.

[@joeboudreault2226]

Thanks, man! I have three tremendously great tomato plants (3' high and booming 2" per day) inside my dining room window in 5 gal buckets... coming into blossom. Its early March, southeast Alberta.... Some movement from heating vent below. But the use of electric toothbrush is excellent for this. Great stuff, MI Gardener!

[@arminhammerstone]

I've had 100% pollination rate by shaking the plant when I see new flowers.

[@JesseBarahonaTXHomes]

Just a straight up shake ???

[@arminhammerstone]

@@JesseBarahonaTXHomes Yeah. Just shake the whole plant when there's flowers.

[@daniellee8162]

Feels like you are choking it out of frustration 🤣

[@calebproductions5970]

Definitely

[@valeriesanchez3074]

Would be easier just to place a cooling fan near them set on low during the morning

[@sweetolyve]

As a former dental professional, I can say that the cheapest electric toothbrush ( from Walmart) beat out the much more expensive electric toothbrush in a study showing how well they all performed at cleaning teeth. Thanks for the tips!

[@derpydogz0259]

sweetolyve thank YOU for the tip

[@valeriesanchez3074]

Just shake the stem with your index and middle finger. Works great

[@wendyyu1977]

OK, will buy a cheap one JUST for this purpose. Lol

[@christywright2188]

Awesome video full of wonderful opinions for hand pollination. I'm definitely going to try some of these techniques. Thank you very much. Missouri wrightchk

[@aerowise1321]

Gonna play my guitar in the garden! Awesome!!! I can feel a song sprouting now!

[@sagufakhanam5075]

Very nicely explained and done in 2 part. He is a good speaker. Well done.

[@deniseview4253]

I’m watching this video a few years after the information you put out. Thank you for the so easy methods. I’m going to try to grow some tomatoes inside for winter. It was a kit that Family Dollar sold and is very late in the season.

[@LifebyMikeG]

great video thank you! Would you recommend these methods with fruit trees, but for cross pollination?

[@laheylovesliquor4331]

I know I’m late, and I’m sure you’ve probably came to this conclusion but yes it works fine for a lot of plants with this type of flower pollination

[@witnesstoitall1144]

Thank you for the information you provided 5 minutes before ppl got annoyed.i needed to know that part also😂

[@nothanks1430]

me as well.

[@oneoflokis]

Very interesting! I didn't know that a tomato plant (or other plant?) needed a lot of pollen spores on the stigma to set fruit, not just one! 🙂

[@ulisesrocha721]

I actually went to Jewel/Osco to buy an awesome circular single head Crayola electric toothbrush because of this video and it was 6.99! Great video, good tips.

[@truthofthematter9409]

ha I bought one at the dollar tree for a buck!

[@dompalmer7606]

Thanks Migardener, Great video. I noticed a number of flowers on my plants dying. I assumed there was a problem with them getting pollinated. They are outside. Did not know how the process worked, now I know what I wanted to know. Even what a pravoscous is. I had my first BLT of the season tonight. I think I'll try the vibration method doing the Tibetan Monk trance inducing mantra at them.

[@annettevaughn3152]

I'm about to try the hand pollennation with my fingers on new determinate mortgage tomatoes. Wish me luck. :)

[@thedouglaspodcast]

I love you. Lololol idk what possessed me to type that rn 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 also this video is 11:11. That’s pretty sick 😌 Started gardening not too long ago for the first time in forever and your videos have been a lifesaver!! I’ve got my outdoor fall garden going and a little indoor kitchen table garden (because I have a huge totally south facing window right over it) that is absolutely thrivinggggg 🥰 partly because of your videos so thanks so much!! ♥️

[@riyabheda9340]

thank you for sharing such good information i do have a tomato plant with flowers on it I'll do the hand pollination on it nowadays

[@panspermiahunter7597]

5 minutes before you even get to it, I couldn't wait any longer!

[@Nalliea]

Haha "jumps right in to it" at 5min mark! I struggled too

[@nothanks1430]

stop complaining. some people need to understand why and how things work.

[@mooretimeinthekitchen7635]

Neighbour: "Could you turn that music down?" Me: "No! I'm pollinating my tomatoes!" Neighbour calling 999: "Hello, I think my neighbour is having a mental breakdown..."

[@derpydogz0259]

Moore Time in the Kitchen here it’s 911 :3 are you Irish?

[@mooretimeinthekitchen7635]

@@derpydogz0259 Yeah, I know. Think everyone knows what it is in America. I'm Scottish.

[@Gamingguy-my4wn]

Moore Time in the Kitchen brit boi brit boi yeah thats u

[@sheri023]

I learned something new, that the male and female pollen are in the same flower. I guess you could pretend you were the wind and take a straw and blow into the little flowers too to shake the pollen loose?

[@barbaraandrade7501]

I've heard about the use of playing classical music in Italy's vineyards : ) Thanks for the tips!! I need help with my tomatoes this year.

[@annicktorfs7596]

The music part was a wonderful surprise! Thanks.

[@jasonnayman6409]

Hand pollinate every two to three days to ensure pollination occurs. When you get successful pollination, the flowers will wilt and begin fruiting.

[@JohnSmith-pu6fy]

Just watched a guy fiddle a tomato plant's G spot.

[@Allypumpkin]

Lol,,, that’s gold , made me laugh

[@JohnSmith-vb6jx]

This was a great, very informative video. Quite technical, but well presented. Thank you...I'll be trying the electric toothbrush method. Liked and subscribed.

[@randomjohn]

Huh, interesting. I was using an old electric toothbrush on my Tiny Tim tomato plants... but there are SOOOOOO many flowers. I've resorted to shaking the plants. I'm getting fruit setting, still too early to determine percentage. I'm also thinking of putting a small fan on them for about 30 minutes, 3 times a day. I might just go to the music option if my brute force doesn't cut it. Thanks for the video!

[@niazsgallery]

Excellent pollination methods. Very informative video. Thanks for sharing. 🙏

[@gsthompson4592]

Thanks. I'm having to resort to a manual method this yr cause I haven't seen not one bee or anything around my tomatoes. Gonna try the paint brush & finger methods. ... Glenda

[@itsfoxx4756]

If tomatoes are fruit does that mean that ketchup is a smoothie?

[@PueMonTen]

Nope

[@CustomGardenSolutions]

Great tips on hand pollinating are tomatoes. I use the brush and q-tip a lot. So if I jam some loud Metallica it's actually good for my plants right. On the other hand I heard that you not use a power toothbrush. I did not for a long time and my dentist urged me to do so and it has made a huge difference. Get a good oral b model. Mine has lasted 5 years and it's still going strong.

[@margaretcoen5749]

Excellent explanation with clear demonstrations

[@resourcefulgirl]

Will definitely try. This year the Q-tip method. Thanks.

[@perfectpeaceworldministrie6629]

Great information! I learned a lot. Can’t wait to see how my yield will increase this year!

[@DevansPottery]

Thanks for the info! Excited to try it right now. Just an FYI, they sell disposable battery operated toothbrushes that vibrate.

[@sarasotarebel2445]

I have the "be the bee" device from aerogarden that pollinates my tomatoes very well. I also use this on my outdoor plants on the screened in lanai and it works great.

[@barbaracarlisle8930]

Appreciated the background information at the beginning of the video!

[@vsgardensandvlogs4171]

Wonderful ideas. Loved watching N will try this. Stay safe.

[@jasunbeckman2637]

Hey Luke. I live in Louisiana and as you well know, man it got hot for about 4 weeks ... well my Tom's had set fruit but not developed and had no shade tarp .so yea my super beef plants got really dark green and leave curled... when the temp came down the plant started flowering again, well after I pollinate its like the only development is like a tiny white water drop where it starts to make fruit but never fully develope... do I need to just start over or can I save the plants? I have no more super beef seeds😢

[@nombreapellido9038]

So it IS all about that bass! Lol! Good info sir! Thanks! Love your accent by the way!

[@kendallg9533]

Luke, can you give us more information on the lights you are using? I can't find them on the hydro source website.

[@valeriesanchez3074]

I have surrounding plants with my cherry tomato, a mammoth sunflower, jalapenos, habaneros, celery( grown from a stalk), how likely will cross pollinate occur? Would only be in the same container or would distance not matter ?

[@kylestyle2331]

Just did the finger method and played guitar to the plant. I made sure to let the strings barely touch the flowers.

[@susanelliott7728]

Thank you. Your video was very informative. Have a great day!

[@cwfain]

What are the white rings on the tomato plants that support the stems? What is the name and where did you get them? Thank you.

[@jackiehorsley9263]

that was great Luke I did not know that music helps set fruit I well have to listen to It more often In the garden

[@swapanchakraborty9690]

Very good and effective video thank u so much. From kolkata India.

[@heatherfulcher1794]

You are so awesome! I love you're videos, they are so incredibly informational! And I'm so excited to get your book, I pre-ordered it. I can hardly wait to see it have its own space on my book shelf.

[@mjfrohlich]

Maybe he can afford an electric toothbrush now. 😆

[@RaoulSnyman]

Great timing! I have a pepper that has grown indoors and is flowering, and I was just thinking that I need to hand pollinate.

[@IxBxCAMP]

I have 1 tomatoe plant in a pot in my deck. I also have another pot of flowers hoping to attract pollinators/bees...i did notice the tom flowers are pointing downwards, as i listened to your video thats a good thing?anyway, does the same thing happen happen for plants like habanero and thai basil?

[@jeffereyhopkins750]

Love the facial hair. Keep it growing Luke. Great info.

[@altoeager2635]

Re: vibrations. 400 Hz is the frequency at which bees buzz to release tomato pollen. It's that higher pitched buzz that sounds like they are stuck in a flower.

[@pinkyfromhaughtfarms6550]

Children's electric toothbrushes are also pretty cheap, maybe $3. That is the best method I've found so far. However, I'm sure my neighbors think I'm kooky during the warmer weather months when I'm out crawling around the garden "brushin my 'maters"🤣🍅

[@annabeejones5147]

🤣😂

[@debbiedonaldson5437]

Life atm is so dam heartbreaking for us all and for the first time in years I actually chuckled out aloud reading yr response pinky that was a classic very funny thank you for putting a smile on my face xoxoxoxox happy brushing 🪥 lol

[@hildagladden254]

Amazing! Good job explaining. Thank you!

[@emilie3907]

My fower just bloomed yesterday and I would like to know when it would be ready to be pollinated. I'm scared to be too early or too late. Could you give me some advice?

[@krystalenevoldsen2214]

As soon as you see flowers, it's time 😉

[@cultivatingorganicbyjomig1719]

Great info Luke. When I do hand pollinate I use electric toot brush or I just gently top on the stems.

[@brittoneric40]

Woke the neighborhood up blasting music at my tomatoes cops came busted down my doors stole all the tomatoes and beat me silly for not having donuts ... Go figure ??

[@seedaholicgardens9085]

lol

[@Enterprise_RS]

You made me laugh! 😄

[@bantamdude]

I know that’s not true bc you weren’t tasered, choked or shot to death.

[@mrtechie6810]

Did they search for weed plants?

[@valeriesanchez3074]

Botanically speaking, a fruit is a seed-bearing structure that develops from the ovary of a flowering plant, whereas vegetables are all other plant parts, such as roots, leaves and stems.

[@generalredneck6998]

I just use a fan on the highest setting to blow the pollen around and make them do their thing. And do you have any tips on germinating Mint because I can never get them to germinate, they always seem to never work out for me also doesn’t help that Mint Seeds are always so easy to crush without much effort whatsoever

[@ashleighscott9896]

Ive never had sucess with mint from Seed, but its sooo easy to root a cutting. If you know anyone with mint ask for a stem of it. You can stick it in water if you want OR of yoy grt regular rainfall just put it in some dirt outside.

[@generalredneck6998]

Ashleigh Scott if I knew anyone growing Mint I’d of asked them, but I’d like to know what the best method for starting Mint from Seed is. Went through an entire packet of spearmint seeds to try and get them to sprout and half of them got crushed in the packet before I could even plant them😂😂

[@wesleykoning2582]

@@generalredneck6998 the best option is to buy some mint in the store and root it in a glass of water then plant it. but otherwise this is how i have done some mint. for me the best germination was in my room 20-23 degrees Celsius with an grow light it was a cheap ebay one with mostly red and blue leds it had also one infrared i think. i always did only half the package at a time so when something happens you still have some seed. i also recommend using a coco peat brick instead of potting soil because it is clean of mold and insect eggs. i also use some plant feed granules which work slowly the non biological kind because with the biological kind i have gotten mold a few times which killed my seedlings. i did 1/2 of the pot with coco peat then a few table spoons of plant feed then i added the rest. and remember with mint even if you kill 99/100 the 1 that will survive will take over any pot in no time so never put it directly in your garden.

[@urodawg_4347]

Hand pollinate or use a set spray? Which would lead to higher yields? Advantages and disadvantages of one vs the other?

[@DeadeyeJoe37]

Time to have a garden rave. Bring out my subs and break out the hard style techno! Gotta get a lot of those micro vibrations in. Maybe if I give glow sticks to my neighbors, they won't mind either... :)

[@Mugelbbub16]

I have 4 tomato plants in one medium ish pot, and they're doing SO WELL, I'm kinda mind blown. They have flowers, and I have a massage gvn, hmmmm😅

[@angelmesih]

Thank you for this video. It was very informative and entertaining!

[@SavvyOrganicsFarm]

Awesome! Great information about pollination of tomatoes. Learn something every day!

[@eileenluedtke6694]

Being totally new at growing hydroponic tomatoes I found the first 5 minutes very informative. Thank you for your patience with the newbies. :)

[@bensontm]

My daughter plays the drums. Think that would work out in the tomato patch or would that be too much? Lol

[@Nuttyirishman85]

Finger banging is the best method. Brings me back to the middle school dance, I think N’sync was playing.

[@j.l.dawson1290]

Great video. Thank you. Electric toothbrush, you can get a cheap on for like $10 or cheaper

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Dollar stores have elec tooth brushes. Cheap works.

[@ashleighscott9896]

Yup, i bought a cheap spideraman elec toothbrush last year specifically for hand polination. Haha my kids had fun helping with it too

[@valeriesanchez3074]

I just shake the stem with my fingers every morning. I'm getting good tomatoes forming. Less work this way

[@jennhoff03]

They do?!?!?! I would never have guessed!

[@whitneygibson6631]

Do you know what would cause my tomato seedling/plants to get crunchy leaf tips? Indoors and not placed outside yet. Under grow lights

[@andybuckthorn8042]

Too hot

[@barrygeorge8672]

thank you for all your help videos..

[@texansoul78]

Excellent video 👍

[@HortaEmVaso-Edi]

Muito bom😃👍💖💛

[@MoeezAhmad]

i was worried why my tomato plant isn't growing any tomatoes on them.. thanks bud, will definitely try these methods.....

[@PinkChucky15]

Very helpful, that last tip sounds like so much fun. Wish I could play an instrument 😂

[@plemyk]

Thanks from Australia.

[@md.jahidulhaque6537]

Thanks for the video. How many carpels does a tomato flower have? Does two carpels mean two fruits?

[@Imakeplanesboom]

Hey! Very new to the channel. Quick two questions! Are your lights costing you a bit of $$$ in electricity? And also, are you planning on living in MI long-term? As the growing season is longer elsewhere (obviously). Thank you!

[@lidip8700]

Love every part of your video Luke! I learn so much E V E R Y T I M E!! I'm starting up Hydroponics & have tons of blooms on my tomatoes but only 2 tiny tomatoes have started growing. I knew MIGARDENER would have the information I needed!! Subscribing to your channel years ago was the best thing I could've done. Thanks so much! God bless yall.

[@suhailalqattan3223]

I have a greenhouse and I use a portable fan. It works just great.

[@robertshuman8352]

Very good information.

[@bldudas]

I hold the top of the plant and gently shake it. Little fruits form a few days later.

[@Titanium369]

Isolating fan at a speed to shake the plants slightly, works also.

[@Udine3]

What about a tuning fork? Works great for me, same frequency of a bee !

[@rajishmaharaj7552]

Thanks luke. I just went out n tapped the toms i got.. Hopefully something comes out of it...

[@valeriesanchez3074]

I just flick my index finger back and forth on the flower when it's open for 10 seconds and in a few days i have tomatoes.

[@TheNexusElementMain]

I wonder; Could an array of directional speakers and a solar panel be set up to achieve a vibration pattern throughout a line of crops (say a 10' hydroponic tube) to stimulate pollination? Maybe need a sin wave modulator attached to the system but with arduino or raspberrypi this should be relatively easy

[@namiboosterhuizen6610]

I'm gonna try it. Oral B Electric toothbrush, battery operated: £6.99. I've never had to replace the battery ;)

[@joshuasukhdeo2498]

What's your opinion on winter sowing and does it work??

[@owlfeathers6615]

I'm new to gardening and I had no idea about cross-pollination. I have 5 different (color) mini tomatoe plants all within close proximity. Two have no flowers and three have baby tomatoes coming😬😬...there's a possibility I might have a mix of green, yellow and purple tomatoes😆. Thank you.

[@williamqwamdaayyyyyyy5074]

Hi, actually when they cross, the fruit isn't affected, the next generation fruit would be affected. The seed is actually crossed, and the next gen would be a cross of your yellow, green, and purple. The current fruit won't be affected.

[@KateKelseyRealty]

how often should you hand vibrate the flowers on a dwarf tomato plant?

[@timmeyer9191]

I learned something new. Thanks for video.

[@harbin88]

What is the problem if you cross pollinate them? Also, we have pretty frequent wind recently, do you think it is enough?

[@heissovereign]

Does the wind help with pollination?

[@nicoganea]

Hi. This means that the wind alone can pollinate tomatoes, right?

[@juanwentz]

Thank you! 🌱💚

[@baysickboyel]

Yeah the electric toothbrush really works. Had better results with it than without the brush

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Agree. Touching the back of elec tooth brush (while it's on) to plant stem, does work great. I select plants & save seed. This is the only way I pollinate.

[@Junzar56]

baysickboyel yep... quicker, too!

[@atech6580]

Does Yelling at your tomato flowers also work?.. its going to be really funny to see some one do that.