Supplemental pollination practices

Even with an adequate allowance for pollinizers, it may sometimes be necessary to provide for additional pollen when weather conditions do not favor cross-pollination. Using hive inserts with commercially obtained pollen is a common practice that can increase pollen sources. Inserts are specially constructed to fit in the entrance of hives and are filled on a frequent basis with pollen. The inserts are constructed so that bees are forced to track across the pollen and carry it to the flowers as they forage.

A second method of increasing pollen is to cut bouquets of flowering branches from trees elsewhere in the orchard and place them in large containers of water within the tree rows. Bouquets should be checked daily and replenished as needed.

A third method is to graft selected limbs with a compatible pollinizer branch. The disadvantage of this method is the necessity to clearly mark the limb to prevent it from being pruned out in the winter and prevent harvest crews from mixing the fruit in bins. All these methods should be viewed as supplemental means of increasing pollination. The best pollination method is to have an adequate number of pollinizer cultivars and strong, healthy honey bee colonies.