Ambient temps and crossing activity

[annie]

Just as my plants are getting large enough to make some crosses, the weather has become problematic. It's extremely humid and hot during the day (95 degrees yesterday) but really pleasant last night -- 69 degrees.

With 95 degree weather, pollen isn't likely to form and with the humidity, even if it does, it's going to clump. What kind of weather do you find is best for making crosses that will "take"?

If 65 - 70 degrees is optimal for making crosses, when do you find such temps in the summer?

[PVP]

Seldom ... if ever.


Peace, PV

[annie]

PapaVee

LOL! So you does what you can and takes your chances?

Truly, if nearly everyone has weather like this, how do you make crosses?

Am I going to lose a year because I left it too late? I doubt if my plants will last through the heat into cooler fall weather. Should I start new ones soon for crossing in the fall?

[johno]

Same problem here... This year it went from 60* highs to 90* highs overnight - just before flowering began. I'm not even gonna try crossing if they can't 'fertilize' themselves. But if the weather lightens up... I'd like to cross OSU Blue and Vorlon.

[johno]

True.

Anybody ever try bringing them indoors for better pollinating conditions (assuming they're in pots)?

[annie]

Hey, folks!

Haven't you ever run into this situation and have some suggestions for the blind? Even if the suggestions are by the blind as well?

I suspect that if our climate in the US gets wacky over the next few years, we'll all appreciate a few suggestions!

Johno, I can't bring mine inside. They're outside tomatoes!

All the literature states that to create hybrids, daytime temps need to be between 69-78 degrees farenheit, nighttime temps between 59 and 68 degrees F, and the humidity lower than 60% for the best "take".

I'm not going to waste my time "trying" if conditions are much outside these parameters.

Maybe things will cool down soon.

[PVP]

Below 80*F daytime temps in central Georgia? You might be waiting a bit more than soon.


Peace, PV

[jcm05]

In the last couple years I have drawn a few conclusions based on my limited experiences. My temps and humidity here the past few days have been ideal, but the dew point reading is a more pertinent way of determining how well you will succeed collecting pollen. I've noticed that dew point readings at and above 55° start to affect pollen shedding. Yesterday late morning for instance, I was able to get average to good pollen shed at a dew point reading of 54°. Later in the day at around 7:30pm, the dew point had risen significantly and it was more difficult. The time of day may also have been a factor, but pollinator activity around the tomatoes has been non-existent with so many other plants blooming in my yard. Readings were around 58-59°. I'm not one that believes temperature has a significant effect until readings get well above 90°. Although I've only been attempting crossing for less than three years, I believe my location in CT is ideal for crossing due to moderate humidity and temps in June when most needs to be done.

[annie]

Thanks, John. So you're saying that for you the dew point seems to affect the ease of pollen shed more than just a humidity reading? That's something I can check. Here in Georgia, we have EXCELLENT detailed weather information at this site:

www.georgiaweather.net/

If you select any town or city available in the drop-down list, most information is automatically updated every hour or so unless it's a cumulative record.

As for ideal locations, it's possible ours isn't too bad. I know it's "the South" as defined by Southerners, but the elevation for this area is right at the Appalachian foothills and quite often the weather cools down in the evenings as it does in the mountains. Sometimes, it's cool during the daytime, too, at least not so hot and humid. The weather yesterday that was so exceedingly humid and with such high temps can often be superseded by cooler weather.

Anyhow, thanks again. It's a small part of the puzzle about how to work with tomatoes when the weather doesn't seem to be ideal.