Some vegetables, the kind that flower before growing the vegetable, need pollen in order to get the growing in motion. According to NPS.gov, “A pollinator is anything that helps carry pollen from the male part of the flower (stamen) to the female part of the same or another flower (stigma). The movement of pollen must occur for the the plant to become fertilized and produce fruits, seeds, and young plants.”
In my garden this year, bees are going wild over three “Dark Knight Bluebeards” that I planted in the flower garden. They are also really attracted to my “Fourth of July” climbing roses, which are at the entrance to the back garden which houses my tomatoes and cucumbers, which is great because both of those plants flower. I have a ton of nasturtiums in my side garden, which has most of my veggies: beans, zucchini, etc. As for pollination, my zucchinis are needing a little extra help this year. The male flowers are growning before the female flowers. When I see a female flower (the flower that has the actual zucchini attached to it), I’ve been hand pollinating – feels a bit obtrusive ;-). I’m hoping the female flowers and “fruits” start catching up.
Leave a Reply