Do Tomatoes Cross Pollinate

Although tomatoes are self-pollinators, tomatoes can and do crossbreed. Cross pollination occurs when the pollen of one tomato variety pollinates the flower of another variety, usually via insect pollinators such as bees.

Will different tomato plants cross pollinate?

All tomato varieties are compatible with each other for pollination purposes, and when tomatoes cross pollinate, you won’t know that it happened until you save the seeds and your next year’s plants are different than the parents. In general, tomatoes are self-pollinating, so the odds of cross-pollination are slim.

Will tomatoes cross breed?

Tomatoes don’t cross-pollinate easily because they usually self-pollinate before the flowers open. However, if a bee arrives loaded with pollen from another variety, a cross or hybrid may occur. … You have to prevent pollinators from landing on one or more flower clusters that will eventually make fruit for seed saving.