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How does pollination in greenhouses with bumblebees work?

Pollination is essential for healthy crop yields in greenhouses. Many crops, such as tomatoes, sweet peppers, and strawberries, depend on bumblebees for pollen transfer. Since wild pollinators cannot access greenhouse plants, alternative methods are necessary. Bumble bees have become the preferred solution for greenhouse pollination. Using them ensures efficient pollination, resulting in healthier, higher-yielding crops. 
Bumblebee pollination
Kevin van Kester
Specialist Quality Controller | June 18, 2021 | 4 min. reading time

What is bumble bee pollination?

Bumblebee pollination is an important and efficient method for achieving high quality crop yields. As natural pollinators, bumblebees significantly improve fruit and vegetable production, resulting in higher yields and better quality crops. Their large size allows them to carry more pollen, which promotes effective cross-pollination between plants.

Pollination involves the transfer of pollen from the stamens to the pistil of a flower, a process at which bumblebees excel. Using bumblebees for pollination is less labor-intensive and cheaper, and also serves as a method of biological crop protection. Incorporating bumblebee hives into cultivation practices increases pollination success rates, resulting in better fruit set, increased fruit size and improved crop uniformity. Do you want to know more about achieving effective pollination with bumblebees? Download the free whitepaper 'Effective Pollination with Bumblebees'.

Benefits of using bumble bees

Using bumble bees for pollination offers many benefits beyond lower costs. They provide more effective pollination, improving crop quality and increasing yields. Bumble bees contribute to better crop development, resulting in more, larger and better formed fruit. In addition, their pollination increases fruit ripening, which shortens the harvest period and allows for more frequent harvests. This overall improvement in pollination efficiency makes bumble bees an asset in optimizing crop yield and quality.

Bumblebee species

Bumble bees belong to the Anthophila and are insects. Various species of bumble bees are used worldwide to pollinate flowers and plants. In Europe, Bombus terrestris, also known as earth bumblebee, is a common choice. The choice of a type of bumblebee depends on various criteria. An important criterion, for example, is that the species must be suitable for pollination of various crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers and aubergines.

Bumble bee population

A standard population of bumble bees contains a bumble bee nest with an active queen and a growing folk. The queen directs the population with the aid of workers that fly out to collect pollenfor the larvae and workers that stay inside the nest to build and feed and care for the larvae. A standard bumble bee population consists of a easily handled cardboard box with a good ventilation system. The box has a compartment with a bumble bee nest and a container of sugar water, where the bees syphon water through a wick.
Watch the video to see how to feed bumblebees.  

Pollination with bumblebees in vegetable and fruit cultivation

Bumblebees can be used with the different crops in greenhouses as well as vegetable and fruit cultivation. Bumblebees can be used with the following crops in greenhouses.Click on the crops below for more information regarding bumble bees in vegetable or fruit crops.

How to use and place bumblebee hives? 

Proper placement of bumblebee hives is critical for optimal pollination. Read the article about on how to place bumble bee hiveshere. Here are some important considerations to keep in mind:
  • Location: Place hives in areas with abundant flowering plants and minimal disturbance.
  • Quality Check: Inspect hives for health and activity before use. Read the article about quality control here. 
  • Storage: Store hives according to instructions, ideally in a cool, dark place until use.
  • Handling: Wear protective clothing when releasing bumblebees to avoid stings.
  • Instructions: Follow all usage guidelines provided by the supplier to ensure the well-being of the bumblebees and maximize their pollination efficiency.
Using bumblebees requires careful management because they are living creatures. Following these tips will help maintain hive health and improve crop pollination. For more information read the article about usage of bumblebees

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Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Kevin van Kester will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.

How does pollination in greenhouses with bumblebees work?

Pollination is essential for healthy crop yields in greenhouses. Many crops, such as tomatoes, sweet peppers, and strawberries, depend on bumblebees for pollen transfer. Since wild pollinators cannot access greenhouse plants, alternative methods are necessary. Bumble bees have become the preferred solution for greenhouse pollination. Using them ensures efficient pollination, resulting in healthier, higher-yielding crops. 
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Kevin van Kester
Kevin van Kester
Specialist Quality Controller | June 18, 2021 | 4 min. reading time
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Bumblebee pollination
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What is bumble bee pollination?

Bumblebee pollination is an important and efficient method for achieving high quality crop yields. As natural pollinators, bumblebees significantly improve fruit and vegetable production, resulting in higher yields and better quality crops. Their large size allows them to carry more pollen, which promotes effective cross-pollination between plants.

Pollination involves the transfer of pollen from the stamens to the pistil of a flower, a process at which bumblebees excel. Using bumblebees for pollination is less labor-intensive and cheaper, and also serves as a method of biological crop protection. Incorporating bumblebee hives into cultivation practices increases pollination success rates, resulting in better fruit set, increased fruit size and improved crop uniformity. Do you want to know more about achieving effective pollination with bumblebees? Download the free whitepaper 'Effective Pollination with Bumblebees'.

Benefits of using bumble bees

Using bumble bees for pollination offers many benefits beyond lower costs. They provide more effective pollination, improving crop quality and increasing yields. Bumble bees contribute to better crop development, resulting in more, larger and better formed fruit. In addition, their pollination increases fruit ripening, which shortens the harvest period and allows for more frequent harvests. This overall improvement in pollination efficiency makes bumble bees an asset in optimizing crop yield and quality.

Bumble bee species

Bumble bees belong to the Anthophila and are insects. Various species of bumble bees are used worldwide to pollinate flowers and plants. In Europe, Bombus terrestris, also known as earth bumblebee, is a common choice. The choice of a type of bumblebee depends on various criteria. An important criterion, for example, is that the species must be suitable for pollination of various crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers and aubergines.

Bumble bee population

A standard population of bumble bees contains a bumble bee nest with an active queen and a growing folk. The queen directs the population with the aid of workers that fly out to collect pollenfor the larvae and workers that stay inside the nest to build and feed and care for the larvae. A standard bumble bee population consists of a easily handled cardboard box with a good ventilation system. The box has a compartment with a bumble bee nest and a container of sugar water, where the bees syphon water through a wick.
Watch the video to see how to feed bumblebees.  

Pollination with bumblebees in vegetable and fruit cultivation

Bumblebees can be used with the different crops in greenhouses as well as vegetable and fruit cultivation. Bumblebees can be used with the following crops in greenhouses.Click on the crops below for more information regarding bumble bees in vegetable or fruit crops.

How to use and place bumblebee hives? 

Proper placement of bumblebee hives is critical for optimal pollination. Read the article about on how to place bumble bee hives here. Here are some important considerations to keep in mind:
  • Location: Place hives in areas with abundant flowering plants and minimal disturbance.
  • Quality Check: Inspect hives for health and activity before use. Read the article about quality control here. 
  • Storage: Store hives according to instructions, ideally in a cool, dark place until use.
  • Handling: Wear protective clothing when releasing bumblebees to avoid stings.
  • Instructions: Follow all usage guidelines provided by the supplier to ensure the well-being of the bumblebees and maximize their pollination efficiency.
Using bumblebees requires careful management because they are living creatures. Following these tips will help maintain hive health and improve crop pollination. For more information read the article about usage of bumblebees

Contact form
Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Kevin van Kester will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.
Kevin van Kester
Also interesting for you
Whitepaper - Effective pollination with bumblebees
Pollination is crucial for a good and healthy crop. In this whitepaper, you will find all the tips and information you need to ensure that the bumblebees do their work as effectively as possible.
How to place bumblebee hives?
Bumblebees are offered in special hives, where they build a nest. These are the bases from which the bumblebees spread through the crops. It's important to position them in the right areas for optimum pollination.
What is the difference between bumblebees and bees?
Let’s first explain: bumblebees and bees belong to the same family, the Aphidae. As a consequence, they are very much alike. Still there are some significant differences.