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What veg needs to be pollinated in order to fruit?

tuffnelljohntuffnelljohn Posts: 284
in Fruit & veg
Im using mesh to protect against pests. But the mesh will obviously also keep out beneficial insects.
1) What vegetables need to be pollinated in order to fruit?
2) How do gardeners deal with the issue of mesh blocking out beneficial insects? Do they uncover the vegetables for an hour each day to allow insects to pollinate the flowers?

Thanks

Posts

  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    There's no short answer unfortunately, you'll need to check each variety you grow to see if its self-fertile/pollinating. For example, you'll see a lot of threads on here about issues due to failed courgette pollination (fruit rotting at the end), but then you can buy these too:

    https://www.dobies.co.uk/Garden/Vegetables/Vegetable-Seeds/Courgette-Seeds/Courgette-Seeds---Sure-Thing-Hybrid-F1_439690.htm#:~:text=so you'l-,Toby says: "A%20self-pollinating%20type%2Cideal%20for,."%20Harvest%20July-October.

    As for dealing with mesh preventing pollination, you can use a paintbrush or pull male flowers off, strip the petals and rub them on the female flowers etc. But fundamentally if a plant needs pollination it's either by hand or by insect, those are your options!
  • tuffnelljohntuffnelljohn Posts: 284
    So veg like brassicas, carrots and parsnips also need to be pollinated by insects? (excuse the newbie questions!)
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited August 2020
    No, only veg which are fruit - tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, peppers, chillies, aubergines etc. The flowers need to be pollinated for the fruit to form. If the crop is roots, leaves, stems or flower buds you don't need pollination, and in the case of leaf crops you don't even want them putting energy into flowering (that's called bolting). 
    Edited to add: and of course actual fruit (apples etc) also need pollinating.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    There are very few vegetables that you are likely to grow that need insect pollination if you pick the right variety. Tomatoes, aubergines and peppers will self pollinate by wind or a sharp rap on their stake if inside, (insects will improve the pollination rate but are not absolutely necessary) courgettes and cucumbers both have cultivars that only produce female flowers and do not need pollination.

    Soft fruit is an exception to this, most soft fruit do require insects. So don't use a fine net for things like strawberries, instead use a larger mesh that allows bees etc through.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    We only net brassicas (cabbages, broccoli etc) to keep off the butterflies whose caterpillars will munch them into oblivion.    I am planing a fruit cage one day to keep birds off fruit I want to eat but the net for that will be a bigger gauge that lets in pollinator insects but not birds.

    Leeks, onions, garlic, beetroot, Swiss chard, asparagus, squashes, pumpkins and courgettes are out in the open air as are the currant bushes, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and a fig.  

    Tomatoes, cucumbers, chillies, peppers and a lemon grass are in the polytunnel but both ends are open all summer with no netting so plenty of insects get in and an occasional bird.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • tuffnelljohntuffnelljohn Posts: 284
    Wow - thanks all. In those few replies I have learnt a lot!  :)
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