Pollination

[Spunky]

Evening all, is anyone else suffering from lack of anything pollinating? I've lost loads of courgettes, squash and runner beans and of about 20 odd plants I think I had one meal from Sutton broad beans

[BigV]

Do you grow flowers near your veg plot I have not had any problems this year with bees,butterflies,and hoverflies etc.I have a large self sown Mallow in front of my runners,masses of bloom and the first babies are growing fast.My courgettes are in pots near a flower bed and the borlotties are surrounded with calendula.I also have a lot of lavender nearby.


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[Nannysally99]

I have lavender planted near my crops, hope it's helping

[Bex]

I agree flowers help, I've lavender, nasturtiums, poached egg and cornflower and I've had no problems so far but then my allotments have a couple of bee hives. Must enquire what they do with the honey, might cure our hay fever


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[richie3846]

Evening all, is anyone else suffering from lack of anything pollinating? I've lost loads of courgettes, squash and runner beans and of about 20 odd plants I think I had one meal from Sutton broad beans

Maybe it's the much-reported decline in the bee population? I've the same problem down the road in Swindon. My bean flowers are dropping off with no 'beanlets' (if thats not a word it should be!) to show for it.

[kathyd]

We're looking into keeping bees because we're concerned about a lack of pollination / diminishing bee colonies - always been a bit scared before, but we've had a look at a friend's hives and they weren't at all frightening once properly kitted out . We're exploring something called Top Bar Hives, which are supposed to be more natural for the bees, cheaper and simpler to set up and manage. Anyone else tried them?

[bearded bloke]

'beanlets' (if thats not a word it should be!)

like

[bearded bloke]

Maybe it's the much-reported decline in the bee population?

Apparently there are loads of bees this year due to the mild winter .... http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1260330

[Green Gerkin]

We have loads of bees in the garden this year. They love this yellow flower



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[Penellype]

Runner beans, cucumbers and some of the courgettes struggling to pollinate. Just tried to pollinate cucumbers with a paintbrush but either the male flowers are not producing pollen or the pollen is too small to be visible as there is nothing on the brush at all after considerable rubbing inside the male flower. Tried a damp brush but still nothing visible. Is this normal?

[BUFFS]

we are getting loads of pollinating insects this year but had to hand pollinate the apples/pears as they flowered so early this year,with only bumblebees were seen around at that time, we have lots of perrenials scattered by the fruit and veg...

[Spunky]

Loads of marigolds bigv, seems like it's going to be one of those years! Gutted because I've spent out and got bigger pots which have helped and get a kick up the bum from Mother Nature !

[lottie dolly]

It seems a lot of things are falling behind this year,i have seen bees around the plots,but they will be of no use to the courgette in my poly,it has no male flowers what so ever,but loads of babies,also noticed the odd tomato plants have gone blind after 1 truss,no doubt about it,tis a weired year again,as for beans,every year sees a lot fall of unpollinated,when they get going,you will have plenty to freeze ext.

[arpoet]

I agree flowers help, I've lavender, nasturtiums, poached egg and cornflower and I've had no problems so far but then my allotments have a couple of bee hives. Must enquire what they do with the honey, might cure our hay fever


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Ask for some of the wax caps off the cells. Chew them for hay fever relief.

[Bex]

Ask for some of the wax caps off the cells. Chew them for hay fever relief.

Thanks arpoet, I'll do that.


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