Pollinators (bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, beetles and more) are key players in fruit and vegetable cultivation; without them many plants would never produce crops of their own. It is therefore vitally important that we bring pollinators into our gardens.
Pollen and nectar-producing plants that bloom all season are an excellent starting point, while grouping flowering plants together makes it easier for pollinators species to find and gather pollen and nectar from them.
Plant a variety of flowers
Flowers are essential pollinator attractors and easy to incorporate into a vegetable garden. Choose a wide range of blooms to draw the most variety of pollinators; hummingbirds tend to prefer long, tubular blooms while bees favor round shapes; while butterflies prefer flat-topped blossoms.
Pollinators love plants that bloom throughout the season. Make sure there is something blooming before and after planting time of your vegetables to attract pollinators attention, such as Alyssum, Aster, Borage, Calendula Foxglove Lupine Mignonette Nasturtium Tulips which produce plenty of pollen!
Include some flowering herbs like basil, cilantro, mint, oregano and thyme for late-season flowers and to interplant with vegetables such as kale. Also look out for night bloomers such as 4 o’clocks, daturas, evening primrose and nicotiana to attract moths and bats!
Depending on the size and space available to you, if possible create a separate pollinator garden from your vegetable patch. This gives you the freedom to experiment with more flowers than would fit within vegetable beds as well as planting more complex crops like squash or beans that require special care in raising.
Consider including shrubs and perennials alongside flowers as pollinators rely heavily on them for travel between places, while these plants also provide shade while helping prevent weed growth in your veggie patch.
Be sure to include a birdbath or another source of water in your veggie garden, as pollinators depend on a steady source of hydration to survive.
Add flowers to your vegetable garden to boost its productivity, but be mindful not to overcrowd your plot. Overcrowded crops compete for nutrients, sunlight, and moisture which may hinder their growth. To address this issue, space your veggies out by planting tall ones at the back, medium sized ones in the middle, and smaller varieties as borders in front. For optimal results ensure you use premium quality soil that contains all of their needs for maximum results.
Provide shelter
Pollinators are an essential element of vegetable gardening. Pollinators play a pivotal role in maintaining plant health and productivity, as well as keeping pests at bay. If you want to attract pollinators into your vegetable garden, plants which provide shelter will do just fine; after which water sources and other features can make your space even more inviting to bees, butterflies, birds, beetles and other pollinators!
Pollinators are easily attracted by planting native species in your garden. Native varieties have evolved specifically for your area’s climate and soil conditions, increasing their chances of flourishing more than imported varieties. Plus, native flowers offer more choice to attract pollinators attention in your region.
Choose an assortment of colors, sizes and bloom times when planting vegetables to give pollinators something to look forward to and encourage frequent visits from them. For instance, when planting squash or cucumbers with yellow blossoms, include similar-hued flowers as part of your planting so there will be ample pollinators support nearby.
Some perennials also attract pollinators. If there’s room in your vegetable garden, consider planting perennial flowers such as phlox, aquilegia or echinacea that attract pollinators such as phlox, aquilegia or echinacea; they produce large clusters of vibrantly-hued blooms which add height and texture. Other great perennial choices for pollinator gardens include liatris (blazing star), penstemon or butterfly weed.
Help bees overwinter by leaving some garden debris intact – such as perennial plant stalks and flower heads – which will offer shelter and provide space for bees to lay eggs. Also try not spraying chemical pesticides on your garden at all; if necessary use pesticides when bees aren’t actively foraging and follow all instructions carefully for use.
If you have the space in your garden, add a bee house. Many options exist on the market and can serve as an effective way of drawing pollinators to your vegetables. When selecting one for yourself, be sure to select one with proper size openings for bees as well as durable construction materials.
Create a bee bath
Pollinators play an essential role in maintaining the health of any vegetable garden and should be encouraged as much as possible. Pollination stimulates plants to produce seeds and fruit for you to harvest; plus they help control pests and diseases that threaten it. So inviting pollinators into your yard is one great way to ensure it remains vibrantly alive!
One of the easiest and most efficient ways to attract pollinators into your garden is by providing resting spots and water sources – bee baths or even creating a pond or fountain are great ways to do this – just be sure to provide clean, fresh water at all times as this will support bees and other pollinators!
Bee baths constructed of natural materials like rocks and pebbles make the best beebaths. You can find several DIY recipes online to build one yourself. Be sure to regularly check on its water level, adding salt when appropriate as bees will lick at their salt-coated rocks to obtain their sustenance.
Attract bees to your garden by planting flowers known to be their favorites, including native species that support local bee populations such as sunflowers, liatris (also called “blazing star”) and butterfly bush. Additionally, look out for blue or purple hues as bees tend to prefer those colors when choosing which bloomers to plant!
Your veggie garden can become an oasis for bees by adding natural elements. Leave areas of bare ground and natural debris in your garden; pollinators need nesting and foraging sites for them. Pesticides should also be used sparingly as these could harm pollinators visiting it; if necessary, apply when the bees aren’t active and read and follow all labels closely for use.
Install a bee hive
One of the best ways to attract pollinators is through installing a bee hive in your garden, as this will enable you to reap maximum results from it. An abundance of pollinators indicates a healthy vegetable garden: Hummingbirds, butterflies, honeybees and bumblebees all play key roles as pollinators helping produce fruits and vegetables while other common pollinators include wasps, flies and beetles may also play their part.
Planting a garden full of native plants and flowers should attract an abundance of pollinators. Native species tend to attract pollinators because they’ve coevolved alongside them over time, plus being native means more likely to adapt to local climate conditions and be less likely to harm bees and other pollinators species. Another way to encourage pollinators activity is avoiding chemical pesticides – these chemicals can harm pollinators species as well as harm bees; hence it is best avoided whenever possible.
Bee hives should be placed in areas that receive ample sunlight, providing energy for bees to work their honeybee magic. Furthermore, water sources near to the hive such as small water baths or fountains filled with water should also be readily accessible – although larger buckets filled with water may do the trick too. A regular draining schedule will reduce mosquito infestation.
Not only should you place a hive, but also some perennial flowers to attract pollinators such as Pulmonaria, Yarrow, Hardy Geranium or Echinacea; herbs like Thyme Oregano Lavender may be perfect options too while marigolds or Zinnias make good annual choices that attract pollinators easily.
If your garden doesn’t have enough pollinators, harvesting fruits or vegetables may prove impossible. Female flowers won’t produce fruit unless pollinated, so manually pollinating flowers by moving pollen from male flowers onto the stigmas of open female ones using either hand pollination or paintbrush can fill this void.