Flowers fertilization

Cycads pollination by insects may be one of the earliest forms of insect-pollination. Like conifers, cycads bear their reproductive cells in cones rather than flowers. Individual cycad plants are either male or female, male plants having pollen cones and female plants, seed cones. Fertilization requires transfer of pollen grains from pollen cones to seed cones. The role of insects in this process has received attention in a cycad commonly known as the cardboard palm (Zamia furfuracea). This is a handsome horticultural plant with... 

Recent studies conducted in Colombia (29) appear to show, however, that copper fungicides have a certain deleterious effect on the fertilization of cacao flowers unless they are used in combination with urea and plant hormones. This does not, as yet, exclude the use of copper fungicides (38). The increases (38, 44) brought about by copper fungicides in Costa Rica appear to counteract the detrimental effects. 

A weekly dose of high-potash organic liquid fertilizer see pp.l94-195) is necessary for flowering plants and tomatoes. For baskets of herb plants, use a general-purpose liquid fertilizer every two weeks. Seaweed extract added to the fertilizer can be beneficial. 

J. A frost-tender perennial usually grown as an annual in a sunny, sheltered spot or in a greenhouse. It prefers light, free-draining, fertile soil, and grows well in eontainers. Cultivars vary in leaf size, eolor, and flavor. Pinoh out shoot tips for bushy growth remove flowers to promote leaf produetion. 

A tall, pretty flowering annual grown for leaves and seeds (ealled eoriander). Speeial seleetions for leaf produetion are available. Needs a sunny spot, in light but fertile soil. Sow direet from spring to fall for a eontinuous supply of leaves. Goes to seed guiekly in hot weather. 

A statuesgue, feathery herbaeeous perennial, to 6 ft (2 m) tall. Leaves, stems, and seeds are all used. The flowers attraet many beneflelal Inseets. The eultivar Purpureum has bronze foliage. Fennel prefers a sunny position and free-draining, fertile soil. 

A hardy perennial, with purple drumstick flowers attractive to bees. Both leaves and flowers can be used. Prefers sun and moist, fertile soil, but tolerates shade and most soils. Cut back to 2 In (5 cm) after flowering to promote fresh growth. Divide established clumps In spring or fall. 

Flowers must be pollinated for fruit to form (see alsop.290). Some apples are "self-fertile"— pollination is achieved by bees flying from flower to flower on the same tree. Others cannot set a crop on their own and need to be planted within bee-flying distance of another cultivar that is both compatible and in flower at the same time. Your neighbors yard is usually close enough. A crab apple can also make an effective pollinator. 

Although most varieties are self-fertile, they benefit from hand-pollination, moving from flower to flower, dusting lightly with a soft paintbrush on a warm, dry day when flowers are fully open. Do this several times over two weeks, as flowers open in sequence. 

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