From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Iowa

I'm curious what the preferred manual pollination method is that's being used by some of the most successful growers. It seems that successful pollinations are a very critical first step in growing big matters! I know there are video's showing how to tap the blossoms, using an electric toothbrush or even using a small paint brush. I have both tapped or lightly shake the blossom and the electric toothbrush technique.....neither one seems to work very well to be honest. The success rate is still small. Are there other techniques that work better? I have some nice blossoms starting to show up and would love to see them take. Hoping to find that missing piece to my pollination puzzle. Thanks

6/8/2026 11:26:24 PM

Grittyville, WA

Try using the toothbrush on single blossoms at about 8-10 am. They won't all have pollen in them but once you see the pollen pour out of a few of them, then hopefully you can figure out the rest.

6/9/2026 12:06:43 AM

San Diego, CA

I can share what works for me.... etooth brush on the back of the blossom shortly after the dew evaporates, ie late morning. Catch the extra pollen in a spoon, then very gently collect the pollen & apply directly to the stigma with a qtip/mini paint-brush/makeup applicator/etc. Do this daily until the pollen stops dropping. Scott (Altitude Maters) has a good tutorial on his diary either last year or the year before.

6/9/2026 12:58:39 AM