Pollination of raspberries, blueberries and other soft fruit, under glass and in tunnels

Why pollination matters in soft fruit

A strawberry needs many visits to develop evenly: flowers that are poorly pollinated give small or misshapen fruit. Raspberries and blueberries also yield more and better fruit with good pollination.

Under glass and in polytunnels, pollination depends on the colonies you bring in. Honeybees and bumblebees are both used, and their activity changes with temperature, light and the time of season. Read more in honeybees or bumblebees in the greenhouse?

What HiveWatcher measures in soft fruit

• At the hive: flight activity of every bee or bumblebee colony, with an alert when it drops.
• On the flower: the BeeNode counts flower visits in the crop, so you see which tunnels or sections fall behind.
• Conditions: light and climate at the hive entrance, to explain quiet days.

Crops

Strawberries (June-bearing and everbearing), raspberries, blueberries and other soft fruit grown under cover. See how HiveWatcher works.

Frequently asked questions

How are blueberries pollinated?

Blueberry flowers are bell-shaped and release their pollen best when they are vibrated. Bumblebees do this well; honeybees are also used, usually in larger numbers. Good blueberry pollination gives more and larger berries.

What does raspberry pollination need?

A raspberry is made up of many small drupelets, and each one needs to be pollinated. Poor pollination gives crumbly fruit that falls apart. Under cover, raspberries depend on the bee or bumblebee colonies you bring in.

Does it work in polytunnels?

Yes. The sensors are built for high humidity and condensation, and send their data wirelessly to the central receiver at the edge of the field. Pollination in polytunnels varies a lot with temperature and light, which HiveWatcher measures at the hive entrance.

And strawberries?

Strawberries have their own page: strawberry pollination.