Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi, I am new to veg and fruit growing. I am confused about which fruit and veg need pollen to fertilise and which are self fertile.
I am growing and harvesting runner beans, broad beans and courgettes on the patch and growing tomatoes in my greenhouse. I believe these veg/fruit need insects to pollenate them. Am I correct?
My courgette fruit do seem to have set before the flower on the same stem opens for the first time, so am confused as to how it all happens...oooh eerr
Also, I am growing tomatoes indoors, which are also setting fruit. But then I saw a great programme on the telly last night where they were releasing bees into a greenhouse to pollenate the tomato flowers. I have not done this but I have some fruit coming.
Have I chosen self fertile varieties of tomato and courgette without knowing it?
I'd appreciate any replies which let me understand more about the pollenation of courgettes and tomatoes in particular. Thanks so much

Hi Judy...

Early morning sex lesson

To remove the confusion first: all flowers require pollination to set seed - i.e. for the male pollen (carrying the sperm) from the anthers to reach the female pistil. The differences come in how this is achieved.

Self-fertile merely means the flower is fertilised by its own pollen. Most tomatoes are self-fertile.

Cross pollination is the pollination of one flower by the pollen of another flower (same or different plant). And this requires help - insects, wind or human assistance.

Plants such as melon, courgette, pumpkin have separate male and female flowers on the same plant.

Your tomatoes have fertilised themselves - insects have fertilised your courgettes. (And before someone else points it out; there are a few modern varieties of courgette which will develop fruit without pollination.)

You will find this webpage a useful explanation.

http://www.growveg.com/growguides/pollination.aspx

Hi Alan,
Thanks for the explanation and the link. All is now clear. I'll be going home tonight to shake my tomato plants gently and leave the insects to carry on doing their thing on my veg patch.
Judybby

For the second year we are having a bit of a pepper plant growing competition between the different offices in my building, I thought that I had chosen F1 self pollinating varieties, firecracker chilli and capiscum californian wonder looks like the capiscum's are fruiting ok but possibly not the firecracker as the flowers keep dropping without fruit forming,I have looked at the link recommended and it does not mention peppers, the plants are other wise very healthy. Any tips?

Compo

Hi Judybby,
Because a plant has the capability of fertilizing itself doesn't mean that it will make a very good job of it. It may be classified as self fertile but the set of fruit is very much enhanced when Bees and Insects, such as Flies, are involved.
The programme you watched was Jimmies new series where Bumble Bees were introduced into an enormous
greenhouse. This is done because the Tomatoes in that greenhouse were to be marketed as Tomatoes on the Vine and they need as near 100% set rate for their system to be successful and also give a maximum crop. As far as I know all Tomato Varieties are self fertile.
Runner Beans rely on Pollination but French Dwarf and Runner Beans are self fertile but again Bees will increase the yield.
With female Courgettes a small fruit appears attached to the flower and will appear to grow and the flower then opens and if it becomes impregnated the fruit will grow and the flower will then drop off.
If pollination doesn't take place the small fruit will rot and fall off the plant. Sometimes at the begining of the season there is a lack of male flowers and this rotting process may go on for a couple of weeks. You can hand fertilize Courgettes or any of the Marrow and Squash family.
One of the classic examples of a self fertile plant needing fertilizing is the Conference Pear. It will produce fruit on it's own but the fruit is generally distorted and do not store but if another Pear of the right Variety is in the vicinity and the pollens are transferred to the Conference Tree and Vica Versa
by Bees and Insects both crops are very much enhanced.
Certainly Peppers and Aubergines and Broad Beans again mainly self fertile but do far better when Bees and Insects are involved.
JB.

Thanks for the extra information, Johnboy. The commercial tomato growers using the bees to maximise their yield makes total sense. Also, I now know why some of my courgettes have not fully formed: They have not all pollinated after all. I'll have a go at hand fertilising too. Thanks for my birds and the bees lesson. I've learnt a heck of a lot - amazing

JB, I was interested to read what you had to say about Conference Pears. We have 3 small CP trees which look quite old. Do you know what they need for pollination? I'm not sure if they're just getting too old or if it's because we lost a plum tree recently and haven't replaced it.
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Granny

Anyone got any ideas about the peppers as mentioned above?

Compo

I thought Johnboy answered your question.

All Capsicum self-pollinate, insect activity can improve pollination rate but they are a lot less dependent and improved by it than the closely related tomatoes.

If you have any problems with fruit set, it's most likely to be for other reasons with both crops.

Hi Granny,
The strange thing about Conference Pears are that they themselves are great pollinators. Most Pears are not self fertile and need to be pollinated by another variety so when planting Pears you have to consider what varieties you want and which Pears are the best pollinators for them. There is quite a strict line of pollination. Off the top of my head I cannot recall them but if you want to know I will look it up and let you know.
I think that if you were to invest in a Williams Pear the fertilization of your Conference would improve no end and the Conference would fertilize the Williams. Aint life complicated!
JB.

Thanks, JB. That's what I wanted to know. We'll get a Williams and see what happens. I fancy a new variety anyway.
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Granny

Ooh eck - I planted 2 Williams pear trees (cos they're my favourite) thinking they would fertilise each other. Does that mean I now need to plant a different variety?

Hi Goldilox,
Regret that Williams Pears need to be pollinated by another variety and Conference Pear will perform that task. Are there any other Pears where you are.
Even Wild Pears sometimes oblige.
JB.

Hi JB,
Think there must be as last year I got one pear. This year nothing. Think I'll have to plant another variety this winter just in case.

Hi Goldilox,
Conference Pears are the perfect partner for Williams BC Pear. There may also be some other French varieties that will do the job. The strange thing is that most people think of Williams BC as the quintessential British variety of pear when in fact it is French in origin.
JB.