Flowering & fruit
Pollinizer trees: cross-pollination
Most apple varieties need pollen from a different variety to set fruit well.
Relevant stages: Pink Bud, Flowering.
Most apples do not set a good crop with their own pollen. They need a compatible pollinizer variety that blooms at the same time.
In the orchard
- Plant pollinizers throughout the block. A common layout is a pollinizer row every fourth row, or every fifth tree within a row.
- In dense plantings of dwarf trees, pollinizers are often placed every 8 to 10 trees.
- Choose a pollinizer that flowers at the same time as your main variety.
- Some crab apples make good pollinizers.
Also needed
- Bees. Place 3 to 4 hives per hectare at 5 to 10% bloom.
- Mow weeds so bees stay on the trees.
If your orchard has a single variety in a large block, ask an agronomist how to add pollinizers.
General guidance. Always read product labels and consult an agronomist for problems specific to your orchard.
