Are Strawberry Plants Self Pollinating? | Here’s What You Need to Know

Strawberry plants have both male and female parts so can self-pollinate. They need pollinators such as bees or other insects to transfer pollen between the flowers for fertilization. You can encourage self-pollination by gently shaking the plants or using a small brush to transfer pollen between flowers. Strawberry plants can also cross pollinate between different varieties.

Factors such as weather, insects, and planting location will affect the pollination of strawberry plants. In this article, we will explore the topic of strawberry plant pollination in more detail, including the different types of pollination, how to encourage pollination, and the benefits of cross-pollination.

Key Takeaways

  • Strawberry plants are technically self-pollinating, but they still rely on bees and other pollinators for better fruit quality.
  • Bees are particularly important for cross-pollination.
  • It is important to ensure that your strawberry patch is in an area where it will receive the most attention from insects, especially bees.

5 Factors that Affect Strawberry Plant Pollination

Here are the main factors that can affect strawberry plant pollination and whether or not your plants will produce fruit.

1. Bees and Other Pollinators

While strawberry plants are technically self-pollinating, they still rely on bees and other pollinators to help them produce the best possible fruit. Bees are particularly important because they are able to transfer pollen from one flower to another, which leads to cross-pollination and better fruit quality.

Other pollinators, such as butterflies and moths, can also help with pollination, but they are not as effective as bees.

To attract bees and other pollinators to your strawberry plants, you can plant flowers that they are attracted to, such as marigolds, lavender, and sunflowers. You should also avoid using pesticides and other chemicals that can harm bees and other pollinators.

2. Temperature

One of the most important factors that affects pollination is temperature. Strawberry plants prefer temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, to grow flowers. The more flowers the plant grows, the more likely it will be that they are pollinated.

3. Sunlight

Make sure that your strawberry plants are properly spaced and that they receive enough sunlight. If the plants are too close together or if they are not getting enough sunlight, they will not produce as many flowers and will grow less fruit.

4. Pesticides and chemicals

Using pesticides and chemicals can kill off pollinating insects. Avoid using pesticides to keep bees, moths and other pollinating insects around. This will increase the rate of pollination on your strawberry plants.

5. Plant number

The more strawberry plants you grow close together, the more likely they will be to pollinate each other. Increasing the number of flowers nearby will give insects more flowers to feed from and help to increase the rate of pollination.

You can plant the same variety of different strawberry vanities together. Plant them close enough together so the bees can easily find the flowers. Aim for between 12-18 inches between plants.

How to Increase Pollination in Strawberry Plants

If you want to ensure optimal pollination of your strawberry plants, you have two main options: hand pollination or attracting pollinators.

1. Hand Pollination

Hand pollination is the process of manually transferring pollen from the male stamen to the female pistil of the same flower or within the genetically identical flowers of the same plant. This can be done using a cotton swab or a small paintbrush.

To hand pollinate your strawberry plants, follow these steps:

  1. Identify the male stamen of the flower. This is the part of the flower that contains the pollen.
  2. Gently touch the cotton swab or paintbrush to the stamen to collect some pollen.
  3. Transfer the pollen to the female pistil of the same flower or another flower on the same plant.

Hand pollination should be done every other day during the blooming period for most varieties of strawberry plants.

2. Attracting Pollinators

Another option to ensure pollination in your strawberry plants is to attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, ladybugs, hoverflies, beetles, and thrips. These insects are attracted to the flowers of the strawberry plant and will help with the pollination process.

To attract pollinators to your strawberry plants, you can:

  • Plant flowers that attract pollinators nearby, such as lavender, marigolds, or sunflowers.
  • Avoid using pesticides or insecticides that may harm pollinators.
  • Provide a source of water for pollinators to drink from, such as a shallow dish with rocks for them to land on.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your strawberry plants are pollinated and will produce a successful harvest of delicious strawberries.

Summary

Strawberry plants are self-pollinating but may require pollinators like bees for successful fertilization. For indoor plants use a small brush to move pollen from one flower to another. Remember that the weather, insects, and planting location can affect pollination so give the plants full sun and avoid pesticides for the best chance of growing loads of fruit.

Happy growing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do strawberry plants need pollinators to produce fruit?

Yes, strawberry plants require pollination to produce fruit. While they are technically self-pollinating, they still rely on bees and other pollinators to help them produce the best possible fruit.

How do strawberry plants get pollinated?

With the help of rain and wind, pollen can be moved from the male to the female parts of the flower. Bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and beetles can also pollinate the flowers.

What are some common pollinators for strawberry plants?

Bees are particularly important pollinators for strawberry plants because they are able to transfer pollen from one flower to another, which leads to cross-pollination and better fruit quality. Other pollinators include butterflies, hoverflies, and beetles.

Can you hand pollinate strawberry plants?

Yes, you can hand pollinate strawberry plants. This can be done by using a small brush or cotton swab to transfer pollen from the male to the female parts of the flower.

What happens if strawberry plants aren’t pollinated?

If strawberry plants aren’t pollinated, they will not produce fruit. Lack of complete pollination in each pistil (female flower part) can result in smaller or misshapen berries, meaning reduced yield of marketable fruit.

Do all varieties of strawberry plants require pollination?

Yes, all varieties of strawberry plants require pollination to produce fruit. Heavy pollination increases the overall yield of strawberry plants, and cross-pollination leads to decreased deformations and an overall higher-quality aesthetic. Cross-pollination results in larger overall strawberries than self-pollination or same-variety pollination.