My blogs have become rather cumbersome over the years, so for convenience I have restored an old unused blog to manage my data. This blog "Sustainable Organic Gardening" will be used as a portal to simplify the presentation of my story. Through this portal, you will still be able to access all my blogs and blogpages |
More Organic Vegetables
Welcome to my website. This website handles the overflow from 'Growing Organic Vegetables'. Both sites help you grow fabulous organic vegetables in a warm temperate climate using water saving methods. Both link to "Gardening with Ecobeds" providing detailed instructions on how to build your own sustainable Garden Ecobed and explaining how to get excellent results............John Ashworth 27th July 2015.
21 March 2017
NOTICE July 2018
9 March 2017
March 2017
15 January 2015
January 2015
Labels:
Compost,
crop,
DIY,
ecobeds,
fungi,
gardening,
mycorrhizal,
organic,
planting,
rotation,
schedule,
soil,
sustainable,
vegetable,
worms
Location:
Melbourne VIC, Australia
30 June 2014
June 2014
Buzz pollinating my tomatoes.
Tomatoes
are self pollinating, however the pollen grains are securely held on
the plants anthers. Moderate vibration is required to release this pollen but a strong breeze will often be enough. Bumble bees buzz pollinate tomatoes by grabbing the tomato flower and vibrating their flight muscles vigorously to dislodge the pollen. Honey bees don't use this technique and consequently they are not very efficient tomato pollinators. In mainland Australia where there are no bumble bees, we must rely on native bees (like the blue banded bee) or the wind. Both are unreliable in suburban gardens, so to ensure a good fruit set we need to buzz pollinate by hand. I do this using a clean electric toothbrush. I hold the toothbrush so that the back of the head is in contact with the stem just above the tomato flower. I turn the toothbrush on and hold it in place for 2 or 3 seconds: Too easy. |
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