Saturday Morning With Jack Tame

A few months ago, we chatted about the bumblebee project started at Tekapo School. The kids and teachers created some raised beds full of flowers that attract bumblebees.   We have four species here in Aotearoa. The big ones (Buff-tailed bumblebee) are the most common species and also the best pollinators we’ve got (kiwifruit, melons, blueberries, broad beans, etc). These insects are so important in our gardens!   For me they are the crucial pollinators on my tomatoes (and capsicums) in the tunnel house. The irony is that tomatoes do not produce nectar (to attract pollinators), instead bumble bees are lured to tomatoes for the pollen they can dislodge by vibrating the flowers (a buzz-movement!).  You could also pollinate your tomatoes by using an electric toothbrush that shakes the tomato flowers, but to be honest, I can’t be bothered with that.  Buzzing is achieved by vibrating the thoracic muscles very fast while leaving the wings in “neutral”. That same trick allows the hibernating que