Since moving my tomato patch to a more protected area, they have loved not being blown around by the wind but are having some problems forming fruit (presumably from not being blown around as much). Many people online have had success with electric toothbrushes, so I got one and did a little bit of research on how to do it. From my understanding the pollen is captive inside and is released through little pores when vibrated to fertilise the ovaries. Problem is I'm unsure when and where to actually touch the flowers to undertake this.

Common sense tells me not to touch the tip of the anthers to avoid damaging the flower, so where do I touch the toothbrush? And when is the best time to actually pollinate them? Grosse Lisse is the variety in question right now, but my F1 Hybrids and Black Russians will be flowering shortly so any help will be greatly appreciated :)

So if you are using an electric toothbrush, I'd try touching the flower where the stem joins the base of the flower. I'm not sure about the timing, I did it soon after the flowers opened, but basically just wandered around flicking the flowers whenever I remembered to do so.

This year's tomatoes are only a few inches high at the moment - it's a while before I'll be seeing flowers. Still, I was even later getting them going last year and I had plenty.

On that topic, my Black Russian tomatoes seem to have two different types of flowers! There's the conventional type (what I'm used to seeing), then there are some larger frilly flowers as well which appear to have multiple exposed stamens - any ideas?

I grew Black Russian tommys two years back. What a flop they were had no luck with Brandywine either or Cherokee Purple and lots of others. The best ones I grow are the little travelers that pop up in the mulch or sprout from the compost.. Then there is the fruit flies too much for the Summer for me..

Best of luck with yours especially if we get a wet Season..

My Grosse Lisse plants are now taller than me (about 7' and still growing!) and are flowering and setting fruit nicely. My Black Russians and F1 Hybrids are about 2' tall and have two flower clusters each. As for fruit flies, I've found that placing something over the top of the fruit cluster works (e.g. an old rag - the little buggers can't seem to sting upwards it seems).

Yes I'm dreading the sudden deluges of rain - can anyone say cracked tomatoes? It's actually much easier metering out the water via a watering can than having 40mm dump 40 litres on every square metre!

I let some of the plants go to seed in the veggie garden that way there are always flowers there for the bees I find bok choi the best and Cos lettuce, some thyme or similar in a pot would help also.

I let some of the plants go to seed in the veggie garden that way there are always flowers there for the bees I find bok choi the best and Cos lettuce, some thyme or similar in a pot would help also.

We only got 4.5mm and the tomatoes hubby bought in yesterday had these little pin hole in them I told him not to bring those ones up to the house. I cut one this morning and sure enough there they were about 20 of the horrible little blighter's they are a jolly nuisance..

These are the last of the Winter plants and when they are gone I wont be planting any more till next Feb