Can tomato plants self-pollinate?
A tomato has both male and female flowers, and they can self-fertilize. Some breeds of tomato do it more easily than others, but breeders have been cultivating self-pollinating varieties because it makes it easier to breed them true. If you grow heirlooms you might want to get a second plant just to make certain. They don’t have to be the same variety; they taste the same no matter what pollinates them. (Second-generation plants would be different, but you’re really better off letting seed companies develop the hybrids. Commercial plants rarely breed true even by themselves unless steps are taken.
A tomato has both male and female flowers, and they can self-fertilize. Some breeds of tomato do it more easily than others, but breeders have been cultivating self-pollinating varieties because it makes it easier to breed them true. If you grow heirlooms you might want to get a second plant just to make certain. They don’t have to be the same variety; they taste the same no matter what pollinates them. (Second-generation plants would be different, but you’re really better off letting seed companies develop the hybrids.
