If plants — such as tomatoes, eggplant and strawberries — are not pollinated, pollen transfer between the stamens to the pistil won't happen, and that can lead to a lower-quality produce offering, or no produce at all.
Proper bumblebee pollination requires careful attention to these topics:
- Hive placing - proper spacing and patterns throughout the greenhouse.
- Life span of bee hives - greenhouse bee hives typically won't last as long as outdoor bee hives.
- Stinger caution - steps to take to ensure you won't get stung by a bumblebee.
If you're a new grower, or are simply shifting away from hand pollination to bumblebee pollination, read more about how to do so safely and effectively in "Put the bees to work," published in Produce Grower's August 2016 issue.
Photo: Dreamstime.com
RELATED: USDA awards more than $2.8 million for pollinator protection
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