North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Jim Fruth" <jfruth@tds.net>]

   I hand pollinate my peach trees in years when there are few flowers. 
Peach flowers respond similar to Pawpaw flowers.  The Stigmas ripen before 
the Anthers.  The first flowers to open do not bear fruit because by the 
time the anthers mature, the stigma is no longer receptive.  I have to mark 
those first flowers so I know which they are by the time more flowers open. 
Then I use the pollen from the first flowers to pollinate the next to bloom.
   That sounds like a quite a hassle and it probably is.  I do it because 
my Peach trees only bear fruit after a Winter in which the temperature did 
not drop below -25 degrees F.  So getting peaches from my own trees is a 
real treat and I don't mind the inconvenience of hand pollinating to get 
more fruit.

Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN  56472
For jams, jellies & syrups:
www.bberryfarm.com
(877)265-6856 [Store]
(218)831-7018 [My Cell]