Pollination questions... avocado and blueberry

[Lisa0825]

I didn't think about pollination at the time I went shopping, thinking that self-pollination would be good enough, but from what I have read, that is not necessarily the case.

I have one Austin Blueberry plant. I have read that blueberries grow wild in Texas, but I do not know how common they are. (I am on the Gulf Coast) any idea of the chances I will get more fruit without buying a second plant? Or should I just shell out the extra dough?

I also bought one avocado tree (Hass). It cost me $50, so I would really prefer not to have to buy another one to get fruit. I have read mixed opinions on whether they even CAN self pollinate, due to the way the plant's sexual organs function... (no giggling, please!)...

http://gears.tucson.ars.ag.gov/book/chap5/avocado.html

The flower opens twice, on subsequent days or in two stages (fig. 48). In stage 1, the first day, the petals separate and bend outward. The stigma is whitish, fresh, and receptive to pollination (Hodgson 1930), but the stamens, bent out at right angles to the pistil, release no pollen. Some nectar appears on the staminodes. After a few hours, the flower closes.

In stage 2, the second day, the flower opens again. This time, nectar on the six true nectaries is secreted more profusely than occurred on the staminodes. The pistil is shriveled and dark and no longer receptive. The stamens are longer and larger, the inner three overtopping the stigma but facing away from it, and the outer stamens at about a 45 deg angle from the style and facing it, and both sets releasing sticky clumps of pollen. Each stamen has four pollen sacs, the valves of which hinge at the top.

I also read some opinions that self pollination can occur despite this unusual process.

So now I am TOTALLY confused!

I am wondering if I can just watch for the blooms and attempt to pollinate them with a paintbrush or Q-tip, or if that will be too difficult, and I should just pay the bucks for another tree.... but even then, if the window of opportunity is so limited, how will I know if I get 2 trees that will be compatible???


*sigh*


Any input on either plant would be greatly appreciated.

[Gato Moteado]

1. holy cripes....$50 for an avocado tree?

how big is the tree? is it grafted?

if it's not grafted, you're probably looking at anywhere between 12 and 20 years before it will flower. if it's grafted, it should flower within a few years.

i'm not sure how the hass variety will do on the gulf coast. they're generally grown at higher altitudes if i'm not mistaken. i put in grafted trees of several varieties, including hass, on my property that's up at about 1500 meters (about 4500 - 5000 feet) above sea level here in the central valley of costa rica. i get them for about $3 or $4 each.....that's why i was surprised by the $50 price tag.

when i lived in miami, the only types of avocadoes i saw growing were the big green ones. i don't recall seeing the cooler weather varieties like hass there.

i'm not sure if they self pollinate or not.

[Lisa0825]

5. It is grafted. It is about 4 feet tall.

I am not sure what that means as far as age goes, but I'd guess at least a year. Supposedly Hass grows well in this area, from what I read. I would assume they are so cheap because they are probably much more common to your area. I envy you being in Coasta Rica! That's one place I'd love to visit some day!

[bvar22]

2. We planted a single Blueberry bush last year.

It is making blueberries this year, so my guess is that it is self pollinating.

We added several more Blueberries and Raspberries this year.

Good luck!

[Lisa0825]

6. Cool, thanks :-)

I may add raspberries next year if I keep everything alive this year.

[ThomWV]

3. Does anyone else within about a mile of you have Blueberries or Avocados?

You do not have to be the owner of the plant that pollinates your plant, if someone else owns one within bee-flight distance you should be just fine.

I don't know a thing about avocados but on that Blueberry, mulch a wide ring around the plant (3'~4' circle) and lay the mulch on heavy (4"~6") then water the mulch, not the plant. Blueberries send out roots close to the surface in a radial pattern, they have a tendency to dry out easily because they aren't very deep. The mulch should be of a material that is naturally acidic, chopped tree barks work fine and are available inexpensively in bales of about the size you would need (couple of cubic feet) for initial mulching and about a year's worth of the additions you have to make as upkeep.

[Lisa0825]

8. For some reason my reply to you didn't go through, and I just noticed....

Thank you for the info on mulching and watering the blueberries. I don't know if anyone has blueberries or avaocados near me. I hhave heard that they grow wild in the region, but I do not know how near. As far as avocados go, I know the nursery has a whole section for them, but I doon't know if anyone in a mile radius has one, since the nursery is 15 miles away. It's kind of a no-frills place . I may go somewhere more friendly to aks questions about that.

Thanks for your input.

[Quantess]

4. Here's the thing about blueberries:

you need more than one cultivar, more than one type, of blueberry planted together, to get a good yield of blueberries. One bush alone is not gonna cut it. Two blueberry bushes of the same cultivar will be disappointing. You need several bushes, several varieties.

Edit: Oh and I have to add that walnut trees nearby will make them unhappy. Plus, make sure you remove any packaging materials around the roots when planting. (The reasons why the blueberry plants here aren't doing so well.)

[Lisa0825]

7. Thanks for the info!

The nursery I went to only had one type, so oI will visit another one to see if I an get a different one.

[crispini]

9. That is very good to know!

Thanks for the advice. I'd love blueberries someday, so will keep that in mind.