Trouble making crosses...no pollen.

13 years ago

I had decided this year to try making a few crosses. I had done this before with success and so did not think much about it. This year was unusual for me as it started with 10 straight weeks of rain with very little sunshine followed by about one month with no rain and very high temperatures. When it finally stopped raining and then got hot, I found that the ends of the anthers on my blossoms were turning brown and sticking tightly together. When I did pry some of them open I found almost no pollen inside. I have lots of tomatoes growing now but still the blossoms seem to have much less pollen than usual and they are still sticking together staying quite close to the pistil with almost no pollen. Is this what should be expected for the weather we experienced?

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Comments (6)

digdirt2
13 years ago
There is plenty of evidence that weather conditions are one, if not THE one, most influential factors on tomato growth and development.

Dave
growneat
Original Author
13 years ago
Bump.
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digdirt2
13 years ago
Sorry I assumed you were familiar with Blossom Drop and the effects of weather and specifically air temps and humidity on pollen - minimal, sticky, tacky, gooey, non-viable pollen.

So yes, what you are finding is normal for the weather situation you describe.

I linked the FAQ for you below.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Blossom Drop FAQ
growneat
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks. What I experienced did not seem like the usual blossom drop I had seen in the past. Even after the weather improved I was still seeing no pollen.
digdirt2
13 years ago
The only other possibility is that you got a rare sterile plant. Astronomical odds against that but it is possible.

Dave
growneat
Original Author
13 years ago
Dave:
Thanks for your input. Had I thought more about it I probably should have figured it out on my own. But, I didn't. I have had blossom-drop before but never to the extent this year. Looking at my plants now I see there are hardly any tomatoes at all on the bottom of the plants and all the new ones are coming on the top. I still have not seen much pollen but it has to be there since I am getting tomatoes. The weather this year where I live has been horrific. Thanks again.