In this episode of Between Two Rows, Erika and Kristy are talking pollination - what drives it, what disrupts it, and who's doing the work in the orchard with these two questions: 

1) Can damaged blossoms impact pollination?

2) Do I actually need to bring in honeybees?

First, Erika breaks down the key factors behind successful pollination (and fertilization), including weather, bloom conditions, and how frost or cold injury can impact fruit set. Then, Kristy shares the buzz on orchard pollinators and compares honeybee foraging behaviour with some the orchard's common native pollinators. Is one better than another?

From bloom to bee activity, this episode digs into what it takes to set the crop.

Featured cider this episode: Shale Ridge Estate Winery & Cidery (Purple Rain), Thedford ON

Have a question for another episode? Leave it in the comments, or message us @fruitwithespurs or @appleofmyipm.

For timely apple pest and production updates, check out onfruit.ca. 

Additional pest management information can be found at Ontario Crop IPM and the Ontario Crop Protection Hub.