The world’s food supply would be in big trouble without pollinators such as bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, flies, bats and ants. With pesticides, deadly viruses and the decline of natural habitat all contributing to diminishing numbers of pollinators, it’s more important than ever to understand the vital role they play.
Some plants, such as tomatoes, are self-pollinators – meaning their flowers contain both male and female parts and can easily pollinate themselves. But other plants like squash and cucumbers have separate male and female flowers. That means the pollen produced by the male blossom must travel to the female blossom in order to form a fruit. Bees are the most effective pollinators, carrying the sticky pollen with them as they wander from flower to flower. The pollen also provides a nutritious meal for baby bees, who need the protein in pollen to survive.
The best way to attract pollinators to your garden is to plant nectar-rich, brightly colored flowers that will attract them. Flowers favored by pollinators include bee balm, fire bush, sunflower, phlox, zinnia, asters, viburnum, salvia, butterfly bush, daisy and echinacea. Plant these within the rows of your garden or bed, or along the edges. If a wildflower or flowering “weed” comes up on its own, leave it. Allow dandelions to blossom in the spring. Early pollinators will appreciate it. You can even prune back any leaves that are growing near the blossoms, to make it easier for the pollinators to find them. Reduce or eliminate your use of chemical pesticides.
Male and female vegetable flowers are different in that the male has a long, thin stem and a pointy reproductive part called a stamen at the center of the blossom. The female blossoms, which appear at least a week later, feature at their center a pistil, which is larger than the male blossom’s center and round in shape. A tiny fruit will be visible at the bottom of the blossom. If this fruit doesn’t get pollinated, it will shrink up, turn brown and then drop off.
If you see this happening and don’t have enough pollinators at work in your garden, all is not lost. You can pollinate the plant by hand. Just take a Q-tip or a tiny paintbrush and dab it in the middle of the male blossom to get the pollen. Then dab it in the middle of the female blossom. You can also cut off a male flower, peel off the petals to expose the stamen, and then rub it onto the pistil of the female flower. Do this in the early morning when the petals of the female flowers are open.
To speed up self-pollinators like tomatoes and corn, just give them a gentle shake to release the pollen. The pollen in the tassels of corn must land on the silk of the cob in order for kernels to form.
Harvest daily to not only catch vegetables at their peak but also ensure all your plants keep producing flowers and fruit. This is one instance where bigger isn’t better. Zucchini can be a perfect 6 to 8 inches long one day and an undesirable size the next.
Bee houses may also be purchased. Also called bee hotels, bee condos or nest blocks, they contain bundles of hollow tunnels made out of reeds or stems. The tunnels provide a welcoming nesting space for solitary bees and wasps. Along with the other steps mentioned above, these houses will help make your garden a pollinator-friendly haven.
Elizabeth White grew up on a farm in Shekomeko Valley and holds a degree in agronomy from SUNY Cobleskill. She’s been an active member of the Pine Plains Community Garden since 2020.