Deirdre O Meara 
As the weather warms up and people start to spend more time outdoors, gardening becomes a popular activity. For those looking to simplify their gardening tasks, one green thumb has shared a helpful tip to double your tomato supply. Known as @thatweirdplantguy on TikTok, this tree hugger often shares gardening tips, cooking hacks, and fun facts about nature on his social media platform. In one video, he showed how to use a paintbrush to tickle the inside of tomato flowers before they blossom to help with cross-pollination.
Tomato plants are unique in that they have both male and female parts inside the same plant, which means they can pollinate themselves. However, sometimes they need a little extra help to increase cross-pollination and produce more fruit. That’s where @thatweirdplantguy’s paintbrush trick comes in handy. By tickling the inside of the tomato flowers, the pollen is spread more effectively, resulting in a higher yield of juicy red fruit.
Viewers were grateful for the advice and shared their own experiences with the technique. Some even mentioned using it for other fruits, such as dragon fruit, to ensure they get pollinated. It’s always helpful to learn new gardening tips, especially from someone like @thatweirdplantguy, who is passionate about sharing his knowledge with others.
Gardening is a rewarding hobby that can also benefit the environment. By planting and maintaining a garden, individuals can help to reduce their carbon footprint and provide a habitat for wildlife. Additionally, growing your own produce can be a cost-effective way to eat healthy and support local agriculture.
However, gardening can also be intimidating for beginners. It’s important to start small and choose plants that are easy to grow in your area. Researching the specific needs of each plant, such as soil type, watering, and sunlight requirements, can also help to ensure a successful harvest.
Another helpful tip for new gardeners is to use compost as a natural fertilizer. Compost is made from organic materials, such as food scraps and yard waste, and can help to enrich the soil and encourage healthy plant growth. It’s also an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers, which can be harmful to the environment.
In addition to compost, mulch can also be used to improve soil health and conserve water. Mulch is a layer of organic material, such as leaves or straw, that is spread over the soil around plants. It helps to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
Gardening can also be a fun activity to do with friends and family. Starting a community garden or joining a local gardening club can provide opportunities to learn from experienced gardeners and connect with others who share the same interests.
Overall, gardening is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, reduce your carbon footprint, and grow your own produce. By following helpful tips and starting small, anyone can become a successful gardener. So, grab a paintbrush and start tickling those tomato flowers!
