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Self Pollinating Fruit & Veg

David ThorntonDavid Thornton Posts: 30
in Fruit & veg

Hi everyone, I need some help and advice. Firstly, is there a list anywhere detailing all veg (and fruit) which is self-pollinating? I've been searching for ages and the net isn't coming up with anything definitive as yet!

Secondly, a colleague supposedly took some advice from somewhere and so decided to 'help me' (he's a slightly over-confident blundering type) by pruning my Greenhouse tomatoes to encourage faster, healthier fruit which is just setting or about to. He pruned off handfuls of the taller flowering stems saying that "apparently it would help whats left on the plant to produce fruit as there was no point in wasting all the plants energy on all those flowers which will not set fruit". Was I mad? YES! Was I sure? No, and so, learned friends, please come to me rescue with some definite answers so I can settle this 'locking of horns' and possible lock him in a set of stocks for an afternoon! .....he also said on pollinating "they're not going to pollinate themselves are they!" imageimage

Thank you in advance

Davey T

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,737

    Lock other people out of your greenhouse - in my experience they almost always cause trubble!!! image

    That being said, he was right about removing leaves and flowering shoots from your tomatoes at this time of year, the plant will concentrate on ripening the existing tomatoes.  It's too late in the season for more to form and grow to ripening.

    But he was wrong about the tomatoes not pollinating themselves - tomatoes do just that - although in the greenhouse they may need a little tap on the stem as you walk past to replicate the breeze or the action of insects buzzing around that happens when tomatoes are goring outside.

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • David ThorntonDavid Thornton Posts: 30

    Dear DFA, thank you for the advice and confirmation......I'm off to buy a padlock!

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114

    There are not many vegetables which require pollination.  Marrow family; peas and beans; tomatoes (self); peppers (self).  There are others.  Read up on the subject then you can stand in front of your crops and defend them from a meddler.

  • David ThorntonDavid Thornton Posts: 30

    Thank you for your reply Welsh Onion! I'll keep searching for a comprehensive list....and perhaps employ a Security Guard for my Greenhouse too!

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