Often a fruit tree needs the presence of another tree of the same species so that in this way fertilization is allowed as well as the formation of the fruit.. Insects generally play an essential role in pollinating the flowers of a fruit tree.
A self-sterile or self-fertile fruit tree
For a tree to produce fruit, it must be pollinated. Therefore, a good pollination is of vital importance for the production of fruits, but also to fulfill the function of increasing the yield and the quantity of the same.
In fact, fruits that are well pollinated as well as sterilized, they will be less deformed and they will be much more resistant to inclement weather.
We can start by describing the meaning of the terms self-fertile and self-sterile, and also explain the terms hermaphrodite, monoecious, and dioecious.
Fruits with hermaphroditic, self-sterile and self-fertile flowers
In those fruits produced in hermaphrodite flowers, we can distinguish the varieties: self sterile; which are the ones that require another variety to be fertilized, and then we have the varieties self-fertile; which are the ones that can be fertilized with their own pollen.
It is necessary that we bear in mind that even in self-sterile varieties, the presence of other varieties can increase pollination.
Furthermore, the earliness of the fruit is not to be confused with the flowering periodIn fact, two varieties of fruit can bloom at the same time, but the harvest of one can be early and the other late.
Fruit trees with monoecious and dioecious flowers
Kiwi is usually a kind of dioecious fruit, which in other words means, that some of the plants have only female flowers and others only male flowers. Therefore, it is essential for the pollination of this species to have female trees (which are the ones that will bear fruit) and males (which are only for pollen).
Monoecious fruit species have different flowers on the same plant, therefore, there will only be female flowers and only male flowers. It's common for female and male flowers not to ripen at the same time; in this case, it's best to plant different varieties for good pollination, as is the case with hazelnuts.
The role of insects in the pollination of fruit trees
The fruit trees that we generally grow are ethomophilous, which means that insects are responsible for pollination.
We see this as a very important carrier, since, for example, an apple tree that is isolated from insects but given by the wind, will have an apple production that will be 12 times less that in the case of an apple tree that is accessible to insects, even if there were two varieties that were compatible side by side.
Why and how can we promote the presence of insects in the garden?
Promoting the presence of insects is essential to obtain a better productionThe best insects for pollination, or the most effective for fruit trees, are bees and bumblebees.
Also many beetles, butterflies, flies and mosquitoes participate, but to a lesser extent, in the transport of pollen between the flowers of different varieties.
Collectors require a wide variety of plants with flowers. In many gardens, flowering plants are not sufficient throughout the year, so it is advisable to plant a good amount of them.
It is also good that we can promote natural areas, develop field hedges, flower ribbons, as well we have the option of harboring insects by offering heaps of stones, compost and hollow-stemmed bulbs.