Apple

Even in variable weather conditions, bumblebees work to support the growth of your apples and pears

Bumblebee pollination of top fruit

As a grower, you know that efficient cross-pollination of your apple and pear crops is extremely important. You count on insects for this work, but why would you choose bumblebees?

Apple and pear crops bloom in early spring, which is also when pollination occurs. Right from the start of the season, bumblebees can make all the difference! Compared to honeybees, they set to work in weather that is colder and cloudier. What’s more, the apple and pear blossoms are more attractive to bumblebees, because they are less discriminating than honeybees. In fact, the nectar from these crops has a low sugar content, which means it does not attract other pollinators.

Using bumblebees has other advantages too! Thanks to their larger and hairier bodies, they can bring greater quantities of pollen to the flowers, and have greater contact with the flowers themselves. The result is efficient pollination and larger, higher quality fruits. A win-win situation for growers and yields. Biobest offers a wide range of bumblebee hives to guarantee optimal pollination of apple and pear crops.

Did you know that...

… apples and pears are also known as top fruit? Strong and durable, they can generally withstand a little rough handling compared to soft fruits. As a result, you can store top fruit longer than most other types of fruit, such as strawberries or raspberries. This is why apples and pears regularly land in the shopping carts of many consumers in Western Europe.