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Bees for flowers

Hi. I have 3 different plants of tomato, 1 pepper, 2 mangetout. I often see bees only at one specific pot of Tomato I have. I grow everything in pots, because my garden soil is no good. May I know how I can have my flowers in other plants (e.g peper, mangetouts) also attract bees please?

Question 2: I have about 3 branches on tomatoes, the branches sometimes snap themselves. Because I grow them in pot, and I already put 4-5 bamboo sticks to support them, they have branched so far from the pot; may I know what would be a better way to support the branches that are away from the centre of pot please? Thank you very much.
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Posts

  • I think its natural to attract bees.
  • I think a picture of your tomatoes would help us  :).

    Normally you have one main stem and from the stem side shoots and flowers grow. You want to take the side shoots off but leave the flowers. This way you only need to support the main stem with bamboo sticks.

    Hope this helps  :)
    Nottinghamshire.
    Failure is always an option.

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Yes,a picture would help
  • HelenDrrL1HelenDrrL1 Posts: 20


    So take this pot as an example; the branch on the left has stretched out from the pot. The branch underneath this one has snapped itself, where you see the withered yellow flowers and leaves. I used the net from one pound shop.

     So far the left branch has flowers on the top (on the far left you can see yellow colours); if this branch continue to stretch, I donot know how to support the left side of branches (as this is growing in the pot). The same story applies to the right side. Can I get ride of most tomato leaves on branch side which prevent it grows further and to prevent the weight of the branch to be too heavy? You can see there are some leaves on the left side of that branch. I donot know if  I get rid of them, it will affect the flowers to be fruited?

    I have heard about American names the tomato "indeterminate and determinate". Is this terminology used in UK as well? I donot find this labelled in my tomato plant. My tomato loves to grow its branches/leaves more than flowers/ fruits.

    PS: I have one lavender plant, which is purple. because it is purple colour, I put it next to tomato plant to attract bees, however I notice the bees not interested to the top of the plant. May I know if my tomato plants donot smell that good (e.g I put some garlic/ chilli powder to get rid of foxes at night), will this be a reason bees donot like to come to my tomato plants?
  • So as I expected you have let the side shoots grow, normally these are pinched off when they are small, this stops you needing to support every thing. When the side shoots are left to grow the plant won’t put as much energy into flowering. 

    I would leave the big side shoots that are now stems with flowers but get rid of all the new shoots that are coming.

    Nottinghamshire.
    Failure is always an option.

  • I hope this amazingly drawn picture helps. The red lines show what should be pinched out. The plant keeps growing these so you have to keep taking them out.
    Nottinghamshire.
    Failure is always an option.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I think we should save your diagram for future use @Sunflower26 .... it shows exactly what needs to be shown with admirable clarity.   :D

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • I would try to support the branches you have as best you can, don’t worry about a few of the leaves falling off, tomatoes are quite resilient.

    Im unsure what you mean about the smell but personally I hate the smell of tomatoes and always wear gloves when I’m pinching out side shoots.

    Hope this helps  :)
    Nottinghamshire.
    Failure is always an option.

  • Lol @Dovefromabove I didn’t know another way of explaining it.

    Windows PAINT Artist of the year here I come!  :D 
    Nottinghamshire.
    Failure is always an option.

  • AthelasAthelas Posts: 946
    edited June 2021
    Does anyone use an electric toothbrush to help with tomato flower pollination? I’m thinking of giving this a try.

    https://dengarden.com/gardening/Hand-Pollinating-Your-Tomato-Plants

    And yes that’s a great diagram @Sunflower26!
    Cambridgeshire, UK
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