Pollinating tomato flowers with a tuning fork.

schill93 · April 30, 2017

I just watched a few videos on YouTube about hand pollinating tomato flowers using a C128 tuning fork, which emulates an actual bee. Tests have been done comparing methods of hand pollination by shaking, flicking, electric toothbrush, and the use of a Particular tuning fork (C128),

It appears that the use of this tuning fork is superior to other methods, and they are inexpensive on Ebay ($5.80)

Here's a couple of videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpUN4Bxmd0w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfRvQ9UU8Z0

Has anyone on here tried them?

Randall · April 30, 2017

Very cool.

I've never tried it but I have one on the way, haha!

clkeiper · April 30, 2017

Good night my husband would scalp me if I used his tuning fork for pollination.

SteveP · April 30, 2017

My wife looks at me funny when I take an electric toothbrush to the garden. Well, maybe it's the tinfoil hat and Toy Story Woody onesie pajamas?

But seriously I bet the tuning fork works great.

Rockporter · April 30, 2017

I want one!

Spartanburg123 · April 30, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveP

My wife looks at me funny when I take an electric toothbrush to the garden. Well, maybe it's the tinfoil hat and Toy Story Woody onesie pajamas?

But seriously I bet the tuning fork works great.

My gosh I had a visual, and just about peed myself with laughter.....Woody in the tomato patch!!! LOLOL

heirloomtomaguy · April 30, 2017

I like the idea i just have way to many plants to vibrate. Tomato flowers are self polinating and normal conditions usually allow for fruit set without the use of vibration. I only shake the flower if it is a giant mega bloom and im trying to grow a whopper.

Spartanburg123 · April 30, 2017

Interesting. A honeybee vibrates between 150-200 Hz, and this tuning fork is 128 Hz, with a 256 Hz overtone. I wonder what my electric toothbrush frequency is? I'll test it tomorrow on my piano

Dave1337 · April 30, 2017

Hmmmm,

Why do you need to use tuning forks and electric toothbrushes? All I do is walk around thumping each flower and that seems to work really well.

Best Wishes,
-Dave

Spartanburg123 · April 30, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave1337

Hmmmm,

Why do you need to use tuning forks and electric toothbrushes? All I do is walk around thumping each flower and that seems to work really well.

Best Wishes,
-Dave

Because the neighbors don't laugh as much otherwise!

Cole_Robbie · May 1, 2017

Speaking of pollinating ideas that make the neighbors laugh: http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=32735

OzoneNY · May 1, 2017

same here with elect tooth brush. Works very well for me.

Worth1 · May 1, 2017

I think who ever did the tests are ignorant.
For one they have no idea a tomato plant was here long before the honey bee from Europe.
They obviously dont know that.
Nor do they know it doesn't need a critter to pollinate it.
They wanted the fork to work better so it did that is how research works many times.
I didn't even see the video yet.
Worth

PhilaGardener · May 1, 2017

Actually, the humble bumble is to blame, and there are many North American species. They oscillate the entire blossom to shake out the pollen. Honeybees are too light to do that effectively.

Worth1 · May 1, 2017

My bumblebees do a much better job.
Worth

April 30, 2017	#1
schill93 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: Nevada Posts: 275	Pollinating tomato flowers with a tuning fork. I just watched a few videos on YouTube about hand pollinating tomato flowers using a C128 tuning fork, which emulates an actual bee. Tests have been done comparing methods of hand pollination by shaking, flicking, electric toothbrush, and the use of a Particular tuning fork (C128), It appears that the use of this tuning fork is superior to other methods, and they are inexpensive on Ebay ($5.80) Here's a couple of videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpUN4Bxmd0w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfRvQ9UU8Z0 Has anyone on here tried them? Last edited by schill93; April 30, 2017 at 10:06 PM.

April 30, 2017	#3
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	Good night my husband would scalp me if I used his tuning fork for pollination. __________________ carolyn k

April 30, 2017	#5
Rockporter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 3,205	I want one! __________________ In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~

April 30, 2017	#7
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	I like the idea i just have way to many plants to vibrate. Tomato flowers are self polinating and normal conditions usually allow for fruit set without the use of vibration. I only shake the flower if it is a giant mega bloom and im trying to grow a whopper. __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

April 30, 2017	#2
Randall Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: 6a Posts: 396	Very cool. I've never tried it but I have one on the way, haha!

April 30, 2017	#4
SteveP Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Joplin MO Posts: 1,398	My wife looks at me funny when I take an electric toothbrush to the garden. Well, maybe it's the tinfoil hat and Toy Story Woody onesie pajamas? But seriously I bet the tuning fork works great.

April 30, 2017	#8
Spartanburg123 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Spartanburg, SC Posts: 1,262	Interesting. A honeybee vibrates between 150-200 Hz, and this tuning fork is 128 Hz, with a 256 Hz overtone. I wonder what my electric toothbrush frequency is? I'll test it tomorrow on my piano

April 30, 2017	#9
Dave1337 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 15	Hmmmm, Why do you need to use tuning forks and electric toothbrushes? All I do is walk around thumping each flower and that seems to work really well. Best Wishes, -Dave

May 1, 2017	#11
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Speaking of pollinating ideas that make the neighbors laugh: http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=32735

May 1, 2017	#12
OzoneNY Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Frisco Texas Posts: 390	same here with elect tooth brush. Works very well for me.

May 1, 2017	#13
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I think who ever did the tests are ignorant. For one they have no idea a tomato plant was here long before the honey bee from Europe. They obviously dont know that. Nor do they know it doesn't need a critter to pollinate it. They wanted the fork to work better so it did that is how research works many times. I didn't even see the video yet. Worth

May 1, 2017	#14
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	Actually, the humble bumble is to blame, and there are many North American species. They oscillate the entire blossom to shake out the pollen. Honeybees are too light to do that effectively.