I saw a red delicious apple tree at wall-mart. On the label it said pollinator needed. What does this mean?

Answer 1

The red delicious is a hybridized variety (cross breed) of apple. Because of this, it is not self fertile, meaning that it cannot bear fruit without the pollen from a different variety of the Malus species. So if you want it to bear fruit, you will need to plant another variety of apple nearby. In commercial apple orchards, the most common pollinator is either the golden delicious, or a variety of crab-apple that blooms at the same time as the red delicious. Insects then carry the pollen from the pollinator to the red delicious blossoms causing them to become pollinated if weather conditions are favorable. That pollinated blossom will then develop into a red delicious apple fruit. Unfortunately, in their efforts to produce nice pretty red fruit, they've bred the flavor out of most varieties of the red delicious. I prefer the Fuji myself. Better tasting, and it's self fertile.

Just so you know, although some plants have seperate genders, apples do not. Each flower has both male and female parts.

Answer 2

Red Delicious Apple Tree

Answer 3

Hello Andrew:

The tree is not self-pollinating, you need another apple tree of a different variety nearby so that the bees can carry pollen from the other tree to your red delicious in order for you to get fruit from the tree.

Answer 4

It means you'll need another apple tree, of a different variety, planted nearby for the flowers to be fertilized and produce apples.

Apple trees of the same variety are all clones of each other, and apple trees are self-infertile, meaning that they have to trade pollen with a different tree to fruit. Since any red delicious tree is a clone of any other red delicious tree, they are the same tree for pollination purposes. So you'll need another variety that grows well in your area to plant along with the red delicious. These two trees will pollinate each other, and with any luck you'll get fruit from both.

Answer 5

bornliar and mr duff are correct.

Blueberries and alot of Hollies are the same way. With blueberries I have seen where they actually come packed with several varieties so you don't have to go looking around for another variety to get pollination. That is a good idea. I have gone to purchase a holly but was unable to find another variety to get the pollination. It was Holly Girl and I needed the holly boy.

Answer 6

I'm not real sure...maybe it needs the opposite gender tree to polinate it before it has apples. You'll have to check the fruit book. Now if it the book says yes that is the problem then you will have to ask a nurseryman what gender your tree is so that you get the right mix for polination and buy the right complimentary tree.

Answer 7

You have to have two trees to pollinate/bear fruit

Answer 8

It means that there should be something to pollinate the flowers, like bees, or butterflys. Some people pollinate the flowers themselves, but thats really hard to do. If the flowers are pollinated, then the apples will form. :)

Answer 9

it means you need another apple tree nearby, it doesnt have to be the same species just another apple.

Answer 10

OrakThe Bold has the correct answer you are looking for.