I'm growing chilli and sweet peppers indoors for the first time (on windowsills). They are now starting to flower. Will they need to be hand-pollinated? If do, any advice on how to do it?
Should I now be giving them a weekly dose of fertiliser? Would something like Tomorite be appropriate?
1. No.
2. When the fruit sets.
Thanks Grawrc and Tim, I was going to ask the same question.
I'm doing chillis for the first time this year and they're just starting to flower. I guessed they were self fertile but It's nice to know for sure.
One other question though, is it usual to stake the plants? I haven't so far but they are getting quite tall and, when fruit arrives I guess they may need some support?
I always stake or they get a bit layabout!
I've grown chillies indoors for a few years now and I find that they do benefit from hand-pollination. All I do is gently tap the stems in the morning. And don't forget that they are very prone to attack from red spider mite so it's a good idea to spray the plants every evening with tepid water.
G x
I should have said that, although peppers etc are self-pollinating, they benefit from an occasional wobble. The disturbance of watering, tying up or a breeze is normally enough.
If 2/3rds of your flowers don't set, that's nature!
I have never thought of pollination, even indoors, & still get more fruit than I need.
However, if you have the patience to mate the several hundred flowers, you will have done your best.
That's interesting what you say about two thrids of flowers not setting, Tim. I always thought it was some failing on my part so now I feel heaps better. ;D
G x
A small children's paintbrush (did use a makeup brush until small person played with it) is handy for pollinating flowers.
I remember the excuse my A level chemistry teacher said when he wanted to cancel a lesson - he had to go home to fertilise his cactus flower with a paintbrush because it only flowered for a short period....
Peppers doing nicely on windowsill, apart from greenfly infestation. Now, where did I put my tub of insecticidal soap? When I find it! will do a foliar feed with it and SM3.
I am with Tim on all accounts plus I consider it a good thing particularly with sweet peppers not to hand pollinate and leave the plant/s to do their own thing
I think if you were to hand pollinate all the flowers and they all set and produced fruit, you would end up with a mass of tiny walnut sized fruit at best.
With Chillis I just leave them to do their own thing.
Quote from: Multiveg on July 04, 2007, 15:50:29
A small children's paintbrush (did use a makeup brush until small person played with it) is handy for pollinating flowers.
How small does the child have to be? ;) ;D
G x
Hi everyone this is my first post! i always thought you had to pollinate chillis yourself! everywhere i read it says you must. my flowers do keep falling off thats why i thought i had to pollinate them myself :o
Well I'll hand pollinate the ones upstairs (there's only 4 of them) and leave the army on the downstairs windowsills to their own devices. Purely in the interests of scientific experiment of course. ;) Actualy they get "brushed" when I pull the curtains or when they get watered.
I'm glad that I'm forewarned about two thirds of the flowers don't set.
Although some of us let 'em get on with it, there are obviously other opinions. Far be it from me to lay down the law!
Pollinating Flowers (optional)
Chilli plants are self fertile and will generally pollinate themselves. However, if you want to give them a helping hand to ensure that lots of fruit are set indoors, use a cotton wool bud to gently sweep the inside of the flowers one after another, spreading the pollen as you go!
Pollination:
Sweet peppers are widely regarded as a self-pollinating plant. It is not 100% self-pollinating and insect pollination appears to have a positive impact on seed set and fruit weight particularly in green houses.
The benefits of mechanical and bee pollination compared with self-pollination are likely to be greater when plants are under stress, that is, low light conditions, high temperature and humidity
Chilli peppers are wind and self pollinating
All you need is time, patience, good eyesight, a stong back & a steady hand!!