Re: [CH] Cross pollination (was fungus gnats)

Jim McGrath (jimm@hi.com)
Fri, 03 Sep 1999 13:31:19 -0400

>Now that that little annoyance has
>been brought under control, I can try and figure out this whole pollination
>thing.  If I have 12 chile plants, all the same variety (habs), all in 10"
>pots right up against each other, do I need to do anything special to get
>them to bear fruit, other than TLC?  Since I've beat the gnats down, we're
>not gonna get any pollination from them  :). 
 
You will get much better fruiting if you jiggle the inside of each flower
with a small paintbrush.

>And for next year, if I wanted
>to grow 12 different varieties, all in 10" pots right up against each other,
>would that work, or will I get a bunch of crazy cross pollinated plants?
>There is some airflow from the air conditioner across the plants.  I have an
>ideal window for growing plants in my house with a good southern view.  As
>the sun gets lower in the horizon as winter approaches, it just gets sunnier
>and sunnier.  I built a 6'x3' table just for the chiles and want to grow
>different varieties next year.  Any info y'all could provide would be
>appreciated.  Thanks.
>
You will get a bunch of cross pollinated seeds.  The first generation
plants will not be effected.  The airflow is good.  It will help to
strengthen the plant stems and may cause some pollination.  Peppers are
tender perennials.  You could try over wintering some of this year's habs
in your sunny window.

Good luck,

Jim