Apple and pear question.

[Keaniebean]

My mum gave me one dwarf apple and one dwarf pear tree for christmas, will these be ok on their own or will I ideally need another of each to pollinate them. I have never had them before so any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks.x

[becks77]

Hi I have the same and they do OK but what I have done previously but forgot last year was to take a dry paint brush and transfer the pollen to each flower, you literally just brush the stamen? of each flower and there you go...loads of apples, they also did better when thinned aswell once the fruit are growing.
HTH

[Elizabeth]

Have you any neighbours?

Do they have any fruit trees?

If you don't want to hand pollinate then you will need to make sure that any additional fruit trees you buy flower at the same time. Can be a different variety.

[Keaniebean]

Thanks for the advice, unfortunately there are no neighbours with anything other than patios!

I will try the hand pollination tequnique and hopefully that will be enough. I can always buy some other trees next year if it doesnt work too well this year.

[Marc]

It depends which variety they are. Some are self-fertile so will pollenate themselves. If you can find out the variety then look on the web for information. You will be able to find if they are self-fertile or not.

Marc

[MrDirtyBoots]

You can also hunt around your area for any trees in flower.

Nick ( um, borrow) a few cuttings with floweres on and put in a bucket of water near the trees.

We did it last year and it worked.