Beginner Gardener Question

[billyclayton]

This is only our second summer of having a garden and I was curious as to how close I can plant different varieties of peppers and tomatoes without getting cross polination and hybridization. I purchased all heirloom, open pollinated seeds along with some that my grandmother gave me (she hasn't bought seeds in over 30 years) and I would really like to produce my own seeds and not have to buy them every year. Any help would be great. Thanks in advance.

billy

[Andy Jones]

Billy,from what I read,tomatoes and peppers are largely self pollinated or pollinated by bees.Cross pollination is possible,of course,but not much of a problem.You could isolate a couple of plants just for the purpose of saving the seed,or you could put a little bag over the flowers to keep unwanted pollen out.

I'm no expert by a long shot.Perhaps someone with a greater knowledge or experience on the subject will comment.

Andy

[tomato204]

Tomatoes do not cross easily. Peppers on the other hand are known as the sl*ts of the plant world. You just need to get a few cloth bags and tie over a branch tip that has several un-opened flower buds to prevent insects visiting. The blossoms will self-pollinate, then you mark the branch with a twist tie, loosely so you know not to harvest with the regular crop. Remove the bag when you see little peppers and DON'T ALLOW ANY MORE BLOOMS on that branch.Allow the fruit to get completely ripe and save the seeds.

[MrGreenJeans]

Do some research but i reckon matters and peppers don't do well near each other nor any of the cabbage family or tatters. I will recomend a book by louise riotte called Carrots Love Tomatoes. It's worth pickin up.

[oldtimer]

I love these "companion planting" theories. I don't worry about that. Put it where you got room when you have the time. Everything works fine.

Tomatoes do occasionally cross polinate when they are side by side. To insure they don't, just make sure you don't keep your seed tomatoes from a plant that's next to another. I keep six varieties of open pol. going in any given year. I plant each variety in a square unto themselves, separated from the other tomatoes that are planted in their own square, by at least fifteen to twenty feet. Doing this I've never had them cross but having them side by side I have had them cross.

Too, you can build a little hut from old screen windows you can get at junk days or a thrift shop and plop them over two to four of your pepper plants to isolate them and just take your seed from the peppers in the cage. This works great for other OP things too. Just make sure you don't have a gap around the bottom where insects will get in by throwing some dirt up against the screen frames with your hoe. When you want to pick peppers, just tip the screen box back.

[neparose]

The only advice I have to add to everyone elses is to space them wide. Last year we put the tomatoes 3 feet apart and it was a mess. couldnt walk thru let alone pick thru after they got mature. I will confess to having a blossom pinching problem {I refused to pinch them back after the year of the blight got us. silly of me I know} that might have run amuck.:rolleyes: This year, more space between them and I'll make hubby do the pinching. {still cant bring myself to do it}:D

[aprilconnett]

Oldtimer,
Thanks for the idea. Very creative! I never would have thought that pollen wouldn't be able to go through the screening. One more reason I love it here!

april