How Many Blueberry Plants Are Needed for Self Pollination?
- To produce the best possible crop of blueberries you will want to plant two or more bushes. However, make sure that whatever plants you choose have sufficient room to grow. You do not want to sacrifice quantity for quality. There are a variety of different blueberry species, like highbush, low bush, southern highbush and rabbit eye. Each species has a multitude of different cultivars, which offer their own benefits. In order to get the most out of your blueberry plants you should cross-pollinate them with a blueberry from a different species. For instance, if you have a "Sharpblue" southern highbush blueberry, you should plant a "Climax" rabbit-eye blueberry near it, for best results. If planting two different species is not an option, opt for two different cultivars of the same species. However, in order for the cross-pollination to be successful the two (or more) varieties must bloom at the same time. Always make sure that you have compatible bloom times before you plant to avoid future disappointment.
- Blueberry pollen is too heavy to be effectively carried by the wind. Furthermore, the shape of the blueberry flower makes it difficult for cross-pollination to take place via the wind. This is why bees are crucial in accomplishing the cross-pollination of blueberries. Make sure not to spray your plants with insecticides after they begin to bloom. This will help you avoid killing the beneficial pollinators that you will be needed in order to get the best crop of blueberries. Bumblebees and honeybees are two of the most common blueberry pollinators. Sometimes you will also see carpenter bees around your blueberries during pollination season. However, carpenter bees actually steal the nectar from the plant and do very little (if any) pollinating. Carpenter bees look very similar to bumblebees but there is an easy way to tell them apart. Bumblebees will have a very fuzzy appearance because of the abundance of hair that they have on their bodies. Carpenter bees on the other hand will have little or no hair on their bottoms.
Just note that bee populations can fluctuate yearly depending on the severity of the winter and other ecological conditions. If you are growing a large amount of blueberries or are concerned about an overall lack of bee population in your area you can consider using a rental hive. In addition, you can also take steps toward making your yard a better place for bees. If you do so, they will undoubtedly pay you back year after year with an abundance of fresh and delicious blueberries.
