How do tomatoes pollinate?
Tomatoes are somewhat unique in that they are self-pollinating – each flower contains both male and female reproductive parts. Because of this, they differ from many other plants that require insect pollinators, explains gardening expert and author of the book The Tomato Grower’s Handbook Holly Farrell, as reported by “Real Simple.”
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“When the flowers open, the male parts of the flower release pollen, which falls onto the female parts. This is how the flower is ‘fertilized,’ and then seeds begin to form and the tomato fruit starts to grow,” she says.
Sometimes a light breeze or a bee buzzing by is enough to shake the plant slightly, release the pollen, and later ripen the fruit. The same effect can easily be replicated manually, thus encouraging a more abundant harvest.
A simple gardener’s trick for a bigger tomato harvest
Tomatoes growing outdoors usually get enough wind and pollinator activity, so fruits set naturally. However, for tomatoes grown indoors or in a greenhouse, you can help by gently tapping or shaking the plant, says permaculture farming teacher and The Starter Farm founder Mark Donofrio.
This trick can also help outdoor tomatoes, especially if they are planted in wind-protected spots – on a terrace, balcony edge, or near a house wall.
“Tapping tomatoes is a way to mimic wind or pollinator movement so that pollen more easily reaches the female part of the flower and fertilization occurs,” explains Mark Donofrio. “It’s enough to gently tap the flowers to release the pollen. This can be done using simple tools, such as a pencil or brush.”
He adds that this method is especially useful in greenhouses or enclosed spaces where there is a lack of wind and pollinator activity. Professional greenhouse growers often introduce pollinators or use various shaking and vibration methods to ensure fruit set.
Gardening expert Holly Farrell also mentions that some gardeners use an electric toothbrush method – lightly touching the flower clusters with it.
“The vibration helps shake pollen out of the flowers,” she explains. “It’s important not to overdo it – shaking too hard can cause the pollen to fly too far and miss the target.”
More tips to increase your tomato yield
- Place by a window: if growing indoors, place tomato plants near a window so a gentle breeze can help carry pollen where it’s needed.
- Grow near marigolds: “Grow flowers around tomatoes outdoors. This helps attract pollinating insects to the tomato flowers,” experts advise.
- Regularly fertilize potted tomatoes: plants grown in pots benefit from regular fertilization. H. Farrell recommends trying universal organic seaweed fertilizers.
- Stress the plant a little: once tomatoes are well established, try slightly reducing watering and fertilizer amounts. “The plant thinks: ‘I might not survive,’ so it starts to ripen fruits and seeds more actively,” says Mark Donofrio. “In our farm trials, this method significantly increased yields.”
