Q. In one of your answers: Shinseiki Asian pear is “considered nearly completely self pollinated” Does it mean there is no need another pollinator? Lisa- from New York
A. A little background – most fruit trees have a built in mechanism to prevent self fertilization – presumably because self fertilization similar to inbreeding reduces the vigor of future offspring and limits their gene pool. This mechanism is not completely on or off but varies. So for example one tree may self pollinate 80% of the time and would be considered “nearly completely self pollinating”. Another may only self pollinate 20% of the time and would be listed as requiring a suitable pollinator. You may improve the “nearly completely” pollination with a suitable plant (usually shown on a pollination chart) and presumably get close to the additional 20% pollination. The pollination chart takes into account the time of bloom (since bees don’t as a general rule pollinate with long term storage pollen) and how closely related the plants are. Usually if trees share parents the self fertilization prevention mechanism can reduce pollination. To answer your question – yes you do not require an additional tree for pollination – although pollination could be improved. If you find that you need to thin fruit each year anyway I would say you do not need an additional pollinator tree.