How to Cross Tomato Plants

Tomato plants are a staple in most gardens, but have you ever considered crossing varieties to create a new and unique plant? Crossbreeding tomato plants can result in improved flavor, yield, and disease resistance. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cross tomato plants:

Step 1: Choose Your Parent Plants

The first step in crossing tomato plants is selecting the parent plants. You will need to find two varieties that have desirable traits you want to combine. For instance, one plant may have great flavor but low yield, while the other may have high yield but average flavor. You want to combine the two traits to create a tomato plant that has both high yield and great flavor.

Step 2: Prepare the Flowers

You will need to isolate the flowers of the tomato plants you want to cross to prevent pollination from other plants. You can do this by placing a bag over the flowers and securing it with a twist-tie. You will also need to remove the anthers from the flowers of the mother plant. The anthers are the male reproductive parts of the flower that produce pollen. Removing them will prevent self-pollination.

Step 3: Cross-Pollinate the Flowers

You will need to transfer pollen from the anthers of the father plant to the stigma of the mother plant. The stigma is the female reproductive part of the flower that receives the pollen. You can do this by gently brushing the anthers of the father plant against the stigma of the mother plant. Once you have done this, you will need to cover the flowers again to prevent further pollination.

Step 4: Harvest the Seeds

After pollination, the flowers will fall off and you will be left with a small tomato. You will need to let the tomato ripen on the plant and then harvest the seeds. You can do this by cutting the tomato open and scooping out the seeds. Be sure to label and store the seeds carefully, so you can keep track of which seeds came from the crossbred plant.

Step 5: Plant and Grow the Seeds

The final step is to plant and grow the seeds from the crossbred plant. You can do this by starting the seeds indoors in a pot and then transplanting them outside once they have grown a few inches tall. Be sure to provide the plants with plenty of water and sunlight, and monitor them for any signs of disease or pests.

In conclusion, crossing tomato plants can be a fun and rewarding experience for gardeners. By following these simple steps, you can create a new and unique tomato plant that has the desirable traits of both parent plants. Happy crossbreeding!