What are your tips for making sure your open pollinated tomatoes are not cross pollinated? I have some fairly large organza bags that I was planning on using, since I use them on melon flowers. I am not able to plant them far apart.

I use small bags that I sewed from the curtain.
Vladimír

The organza bags work fine. Just give the flower clusters a good Shake to aid pollination and do not forget to mark the fruit clusters with ribbon when you remove bags so you know which ones have been isolated. You don't want to eat them by mistake

How strict should one be when bagging blossoms? If any of the buds are starting to open up should I pluck them off? I am bagging for the first time and want to know if it's okay to bag the blossoms if they're partially open. I could be overthinking, but if I'm going to go to the effort, I might as well do it correctly.

What I have been told about bagging flowers is to pinch off any that are opening. Where possible bag the first truss as the tomatoes have more time to ripen and shake the truss stem to help pollination. Don't forget to tag fruit once formed so you don't eat by mistake

When I put the inflorescence in a bag, I remove the open flower for safety.
Vladimír

Just a thought that floated in while I was reading this and a question.... If using organza bags, do you wash them after each use? Wondering about stray pollen remaining in the bag.

Can someone please post a photo of the bags they use along with dimensions?

This type of thing would be suitable [mention]GoDawgs[/mention]. Size varies, with the bigger bags having the advantage the you maybe able to leave them on the fruit as insect protection and for reducing the likelihood of accidentally picking the fruit for consumption. These are 8 x 12 inches.

https://canary.contestimg.wish.com/api/ ... 85989b74c4

Plenty of other options to be found on the web.

it is definitely best to wash in warm soapy water with a bit of bleach thrown in to aid in releasing any trapped pollen then thoroughly rinse and dry.

GoDawgs wrote: ↑Wed Jun 16, 2021 9:23 am Just a thought that floated in while I was reading this and a question.... If using organza bags, do you wash them after each use? Wondering about stray pollen remaining in the bag.

Can someone please post a photo of the bags they use along with dimensions?

First time doing this myself. Funny enough, I had the same thoughts about re-using them. I likely won't and I am not even sure washing would be a good idea. Pollen is very hardy.

I bought 2 sizes - 7.9" X 11.8" and 5" X 7" Organza bags. I used both. I found the smaller ones were good for my tomatoes and the larger ones for my peppers. At least, so far. It was easier to isolate the tomato truss, but with peppers I had to cover a branch in many cases.

Similar to these:
https://www.amazon.com/Organza-Drawstri ... hen&sr=1-3

https://www.amazon.com/KUPOO-50PCS-Orga ... 207&sr=8-5

I managed to get myself quite a few bags the other day, took a while for me to empty out all the sugared almonds quickly without anyone seeing but I think I got away with it....

Before anyone reports me, I bought the 10cm x 15cm organza bags 100 pcs off Amazon . Hope they work....

Grin one of those sets of bags just hopped into my shopping cart. I am giving Big Hill a try next year and may bag a couple to insure I get some uncrossed tomatoes PLUS I will be trying to make a few crosses and need to insure they are only pollinated by the right tomatoes...

I tried bagging blossoms last year but failed because my organza bags were too small (and also because the weather was uncooperative). Which size should I get? -- 5x7, 6x9 or 8x12? Just spotted the first tomato of the year in my garden, so I'm already behind on this project! No surprise there.

Seven Bends wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2024 12:35 pm I tried bagging blossoms last year but failed because my organza bags were too small (and also because the weather was uncooperative). Which size should I get? -- 5x7, 6x9 or 8x12? Just spotted the first tomato of the year in my garden, so I'm already behind on this project! No surprise there.

If you can get the 8x12, use them. That way you can leave them on the plant as markers and have them protect the fruit from pests/accidental picking longer. If you need to remove bags, tie ribbon or somehow mark fruit so that you and anyone else whom may pick knows that they are for seed collection.

I have plenty of agribon AG19, any reason I couldn't just fold a bit of that around the flowers and use a twister behind it?

Not familiar with Agribom AG19 @JRinPA , so just Googled it. Only concern would be mesh size being too small on hot days, trapping heat inside pouch, otherwise sounds good. Just need to watch folded area does not become an insect home also.

I don't know agribon AG19, but from the picture I think it's something like a non-woven fabric. If so, I think it's inappropriate for bags. I've only used it once and the flowers got cooked in it.
Vladimír

Yeah you guys might be right, it might add a little heat. But bagging flowers would be early season, so probably not that hot out at the time.

I only need to do it for that giant tomato seed to send back to wisconsin.

JRinPA wrote: ↑Fri May 31, 2024 9:24 pm Yeah you guys might be right, it might add a little heat. But bagging flowers would be early season, so probably not that hot out at the time.

I only need to do it for that giant tomato seed to send back to wisconsin.

Thank you kind sir. I don't think that it's necessary for you to bag them. Nobody else that I know of will be doing it except for me.

I have bags and I have tomatoes, but I lack motivation to bag tomatoes.