Extremely wet or cold weather when pollen is being dispersed will cause poor fruit set. Extended periods of freezing temperatures can destroy flower buds. Sudden late frosts will cause irreparable damage to flowers and young fruit. On the other side, excessively hot and dry summer weather can cause blossom drop and result in poor fruit set for many vegetable crops. Regular, thorough irrigation is critical to promote flowering and fruiting especially with vegetable crops.
Many gardeners question how various vegetables are pollinated.
This is important to know when collecting and saving seed for use next year. It also helps explain some of the challenges involved when fruit set does not live up to our expectations. Listed below are several common vegetables and their method of pollination. As the gardening season is getting under way, consider the wonders of seed production. Pollination and fertilization allow the species to survive and give gardeners a chance to harvest a bountiful crop.