Nurture Healthy Pollen Production

Without pollen production, most plant and animal life in our gardens would cease to exist. An abundance of healthy, ripe pollen is the rich vein of gold that produces our most popular food crops. Without this garden gold dust there would be no apples, cucumbers, tomatoes or corn. 

Just as distinct as the plants on which they’re found, pollens are wind-transferred (such as corn and ragweed), the bane of hay fever sufferers, and insect-transferred (such as fruit and squash) displayed on showy, scented flowers designed to attract pollinators.

At the heart of blossoms in structures called anthers, atop stalk like stamens is where the pollen grains develop. As pollen ripens and becomes very yellow, the anthers open. Then either the wind or insects transfer the pollen grains, which contain male reproductive cells, to the tips of pistils, the female parts of blossoms. Much like a seed, the pollen germinates there. Each grain of pollen sends a tube down into a pistil to the flower’s ovary, where it fertilizes a seed-producing ovule.

This process needs to take place hundreds, thousands, even millions of times in order to generate a bumper crop of almost anything in a growing season. The life span of a pollen grain is fairly short, ranging from a few hours to a few days. A lot can go wrong along the way. Soil nutrients, moisture levels, weather, and sunlight all influence pollen production. To improve the odds that at least some ripe pollen will land on desirable pistils, plants must produce vast volumes of pollen.

The ideal pollen-germinating temperature for most plants is 65ºF to 75ºF. So if your garden grows at these temperatures most of the time, you are most likely to beat the odds. Germination generally slows or eventually stops when nights drop below 60ºF, days are above 85ºF, or the humidity tops 70 percent. Between five and ten in the morning is when airborne pollen usually peaks. Pollen production can be eccentric, though. Different plants can shed pollen at different times of the day.

To help maximize pollen production and germination in your garden do some simple things: Test your garden soil regularly. Plants need balanced nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium levels for blossom production. Adequate levels of calcium and boron are required for healthy pollen development. A soil test determines what is necessary for improvement. Select plants suited to your climate. In hot-summer regions, some plants stop ripening pollen in July and August. In these regions, choose early-blooming plant varieties that ripen enough pollen to produce good crops before temperatures become too hot.

It will also help to maintain even soil moisture. Providing a consistent amount of water helps plants take in the nutrients that encourage blossom development and healthy pollination. Drought conditions can dramatically reduce pollen production. Take care to water the soil at the plant’s ground level because top watering can wash delicate pollen off flowers and out of the air. To make the task of watering much easier, use a garden hose reel.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking good and healthy.