How to Pollinate Hydroponic Tomato Flowers

Grow tomato plants indoors year-round.

Imagine homegrown tomato plants in January! Grow hydroponic tomatoes year-round for fresh tomatoes and delicious sauces. Outdoors, bees and the wind pollinate tomatoes. Indoors, hydroponic tomatoes need your help. Getting hydroponic tomatoes to flower and bear fruit takes a little practice, but the end result is worth the effort.

Things You'll Need

• Electric toothbrush or mist blower

Instructions

1. 

   Use an electric toothbrush to pollinate tomato flowers.

   When the flowers begin to open, brush the tomato plants with an electric toothbrush. Turn the toothbrush on and brush against several main branches on each plant for 10 seconds each. The pollen moves from the male anthers to the female carpels. Meaty, juicy tomatoes have lots of seeds; a result of good polination.

2. For best results, brush the tomato plants everyday.

3. 

   Bees pollinate tomatoes outdoors.

   Pollination occurs most readily when the temperatures are warm and humidity is high. Pollinate your tomato flowers between 12 and 2 p.m., when these conditions naturally occur.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose crack resistant tomato varieties.

• Mix 1 tsp. lime into a gallon of potting mix. The lime adjusts the pH level and provides calcium, preventing blossom end rot later.

• Commercial growers use specially made pollinating devices like electric vibrators and mist blowers.

References

• Jason's Guide: How to Grow Tomatoes Indoors
• Texas Agricultural Extension Service: Greenhouse Tomato Culture

Resources

• Laurel's Heirloom Tomato Plants: Heirloom Tomatoes