Self pollinating my tomatoe plants.?

Question

My tomatoe plants are about 6 feet tall and the bud keep falling off and no tomatoes. I just read about self pollinating them myself. I'm wondering if it's too late? They've been growing about 2 1/2 months and are huge about 6 feet tall? So I've heard I can rub inside the flowers and also read to hold a piece of paper under one flower and sprinkle the pollen onto another one. But that's alot of trouble. Can anyone telll me if I can just gently shake the plants like I read and also just lightly rub the flowers...without going to the trouble of collecting the pollen and putting it into another flower? Cuz I'm thinking...how much pollen can you even see drop onto a piece of paper?

Answer 1

This is not a pollination problem, it could be a comination of things. First of all I would suggest that you have allowed the plants to grow too big, the ideal height for tomatoe plants is about 4ft. To achieve this you would pinch the top out at that height. Your problem is the flower buds keep falling off. The flower is not "Setting". so I get the feeling that the plants are not growing in the open ground., where they would get the rain. Now I mention rain, because any flowers need it or a substitute, for the flower to set, So if these plants are inside, to get the flower to set it should be sprayed daily with water whilst it is flowering, if you don't the flowers will drop off.  No flower, no pollen, and the pollen is not all that important, because most tomatoes are self pollinating. Maybe a bit late now to expect a bumper crop, but any further flowers spray them daily to set them. best of luck

Answer 2

You need to have more than 1 tomato plant nearby.  They won't pollinate flowers from the same plant.  That would be like a brother and sister hooking up in the plant world.

What you have been told about pollination is correct though there is no way around it.  You need to identify a male flower and sprinkle it over a female flower.  I'm thinking that your tomato plant may be getting too large though.  It's not too late to plant another and start over but I'd hurry.