Self Pollinating Fruits & Vegetables

Small Fruits

• Many small fruits such as raspberries, sour cherries, blackberries and strawberries have the ability to self-pollinate. All of these berry bushes produce flowers that pollinate the plant without the need for insects and other plants. Sweet cherry varieties are not self-pollinating, but sour cherries are. Blueberries need additional help to cross-pollinate with other plants, so blueberries don't make the list. Many berry bushes and strawberry plants produce fruit the first year or two after being planted in the ground. Select transplants if you want to ensure that you get berries the first year. The Master Gardner Foundation says to avoid planting berry plants in areas where tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and potatoes have grown within the last three years because this area may contain diseases. Berries need fertile ground without diseases along with slightly acidic soil to grow properly.

Large Fruits

• Most large fruits, such as apples and pears, are not able to self-pollinate. However, peaches and apricots can pollinate themselves. Both of these large fruits grow on trees that produce flowers in the spring. The pollen gradually shakes off the flowers to do the job of pollination. However, like many fruit trees, both apricot and peach trees still won't produce edible fruit until the tree is a few years old. Even though the plants can self-pollinate, the trees are still immature for the first few years. Apricot trees take two to five years to produce edible fruits and peach trees produce mature fruit within three to four years. You may still notice tiny fruits on these trees early on, but these fruits are generally sour and not mature.

Dark Leafy Greens and other Types of Lettuce

• Dark leafy greens such as kale, romaine and spinach along with other types of lettuce are able to self-pollinate. These plants are cool-season vegetables that should be planted during the spring. The plant produces flowers that aid pollination without the need for insects and other plants to cross-pollinate. The heads are tight and closed or loose, depending on the variety.

Other Types of Self Pollinating Vegetables

• Chicory, tomatoes, legumes and various types of peppers are also self-pollinating vegetables. Legumes include a wide variety of vegetables such as string beans, peas, kidney beans, black beans, sprouts and other types of bean plants. Pair chicory alongside legumes and other self-pollinating plants. Choose from different types of tomatoes such as early girl, better boy, cherry or beef steak.