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Pollination in the greenhouse

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Lokelani (U8896212) on Wednesday, 2nd June 2010

  Is it an issue, or are things likely to get pollinated easily enough through open doors & vents?
  
  My newly built greenhouse is a lean to type & just over one third of the top is a very large window with an automated opener. If it gets to about 30 degrees in there I also open the top half of the two front doors, which form the full width.
  
  I am loathe to open the bottom halves of the doors (a full half like stable doors) to try & avoid slugs & snails walking in too easily!
  
  It's all shelving & the chillis & peppers are on the top so open to the air if the vent is open & more so if the whole front is open.
  
  However the tomatoes are all on the ground in their pots, just below the shelf that is the same height as the bottom doors, that I wasn't planning on opening.
  
  They are mostly in flower now & I haven't seen any bees in there, but there are a lot of little flies......
  
  So are things likely to fly down through the shelves, or do I need to open the whole front up or go in with a paintbrush?!
  
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by 4smilingcat6 (U14338727) on Wednesday, 2nd June 2010

  Most things will be fine-the only plants to get a helping hand from me are melons

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Paul Hodder (U14288973) on Wednesday, 2nd June 2010

  Hello, I think with toms people say to give the plant a little shake and a spray mist seems to help.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Wednesday, 2nd June 2010

  Lokelani.
  
  My GH gets it's glass in on Saturday weather permitting.
  
  I was thinknig of putting copper pipping hammered flat along the bottom of the door to stop slugs and am going to seal the base with bathroom sealer to stop them getting in through the gaps with copper around the legs on the potting bench.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Lokelani (U8896212) on Thursday, 3rd June 2010

  Ah well a little shake & misting isn't too hard so I'll do that just in case.
  
  Good thinking Zoomer44. I have had great success with copper tape on pots last & this year.
  
  As it's a handmade timber & glass greenhouse it does have a few small gaps, we weren't sure how airtight it should be really. We did fill the bigger gaps where it joins the house wall with expanding foam.
  
  Perhaps I will get busy with copper tape & if it's successful then maybe fit some longer lasting copper pipe. It's quite expensive though, I remember buying a few lengths from Wickes to make plant supports with as it bends & ages nicely.
  
  I've already found a fat green caterpillar in there on a stem, very well camouflaged. Must have come in the vent probably. Grr.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Thursday, 3rd June 2010

  Lokelani
  
  One brother is a plumber, he keeps all his stuff in my basement and I noticed a few lengths of old copper piping in there last time I went down It's worth trying if it comes free.
  
  I discovered all manner of creatures in the frame of my second hand GH when we came to put the frame back up last weekend so bought some Jeyes fluid(planning to give it a really good clean before the glass goes in) then read the label when I got it home and it said there was no jeyes fluid in it . The bottles full of something though so will give it a good clean anyway.
  
  

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by richardbees (U3432591) on Thursday, 3rd June 2010

  Lokelani,
  
  Tomatoes are self pollinating with the M / F parts within the flower but depend on vibration e.g. bumblebees/insects lumbering around outside to shake the pollen from the M bit onto the F bit. Expert Show Tomato Growers hold electric tooth brushes against the flower trusses... normal people can get by with giving the plants a tap whenever passing.
  
  rich

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Lokelani (U8896212) on Friday, 4th June 2010

  What a useful brother to have Zoomer!
  
  I think I should have looked more carefully in the gaps in the paving that is at the bottom of my new greenhouse & any gaps around the wall. I checked for slugs/snails but didn't really think about eggs.
  
  Your good clean out sounds like the way to go. Good luck with it.
  
  

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Lokelani (U8896212) on Friday, 4th June 2010

  That's really useful to know Richardbees.
  
  I was dreading having to bring my toothbrush out to the greenhouse every day until I read on!
  
  Shall go & give my tomato plants a tap right now! Thanks.

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 9.

  Posted by richardbees (U3432591) on Friday, 4th June 2010

  Lok - hope you're not taking the "Bob Flowerdew compost starter" ?

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• Message 11

  , in reply to message 10.

  Posted by Lokelani (U8896212) on Friday, 4th June 2010

  no, not in the slightest. It's my first year with this proper greenhouse so I'm probably taking everything far too seriously actually!
  
  I gave the tomato plants a gentle shake before I went out & will do the same later when I water. They're taking up so much room in there, it would be awful if they didn't fruit.
  
  

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