Tag: pollination

Hands On: Pinching and Hand-Pollinating for a Bumper Crop

Ever wonder why one garden is extremely lush, while the one next door in the same ecosystem is struggling along? And particularly when both get the same hours of sun and are appropriately watered and fertilized? As with anything else in life, it comes down to attention to detail. Pinching—which can be done with garden…


How to Attract Pollinators to Your Garden

Don’t be so quick to shoo that bee away. Virtually all seeds need to be pollinated; happily, there are insects and wildlife ready to help. The USDA reports that there are more than 3,500 species of bees alone increasing crop yields, and it estimates that one out of every three bites of food we eat exists…


Self-Pollinating Pears

Q: My local nursery is selling fruit trees at a discount because they are getting ready for fall. I have been trying to decide if I want to plant a peach tree or a pear tree. I think I really only have room for one tree. I have read that I need to get two…