Most almond tree variety require a second tree for proper pollination. Moreover, a standard almond tree, needs a different cultivar for pollination. Two Nonpareil, for instance, will not pollinate each other. Why? Self-incompatibility & Self fertility. This is a widespread mechanism in flowering plants that prevents inbreeding and promotes outcrossing. Fascinating intricacy and you may find this to be way too much information.
So, in a nutshell (sorry) our Almond Orchard has 4 variety.
- Nonpareil
- Fritz
- Butte
- Monterey
The tree rows alternate e.g. Row 1 Nonpareil – Row 2 Fritz – Row3 Nonpareil – Row 4 Butte – Row 5 Nonpareil – next row., next row..
Note that the rows are interspersed but not the trees. In this way we keep the variety separate for the purpose of harvest pickup. The Almond Processor will ding us if the nut varieties get mixed. You may observe that Nonpareil is THE dominant variety in our layout. The Nonpareil is used in consumer products in which the kernel is visible. Nonpareil kernels are uniform, fairly flat, and light colored; they have the widest range of uses of all the categories. They command the highest price in the market.
From the dozens of almond varieties known we selected these. They are pollen compatible and have similar bloom overlap. Bees have a tendency to visit other flowers in a similar stage of bloom. This is important for good cross pollination.
Why four varieties? Wouldn’t two or three be sufficient to resolve this pollination issue? Or perhaps four spreads market risk?
Good question Cristina! (when someone responds with “good question” that usually means that you stumped the “expert” but in this case it really is an excellent question and the answer one for which I had to open THE book) You already know about Cross Pollination and that pollen compatability is the primary but there are two other factors: bloom periods and harvest period spread. The former must have overlap for the pollinator and the latter is for the convenience of the harvester/processor. I think you are on the right track about risk. The Nonpareil has early bloom so if something adverse happened e.g. frost, it would leave the neighbor variety as pollinator in the lurch so to speak so we have another variety to backup the middle variety. The Monterey variety may have been added because of root stock availability or perhaps as an experiment? Our Monterey is limited to one end of the West Block and only 13 rows.
The answer to your question, Cristina, is as follows: Jagpal Bath, a tenant I procured, signed a 25 year lease requiring that he plant an almond orchard and a vineyard on the Fresno agricultural land. In April 1998, he did so. Almond trees are normally planted during the winter months. When Jagpal placed the order, the nursery stock was nearing depletion. He chose to plant the pollinators that were available. The ideal scenario would have been to plant Nonpareil and Monterey.
Thank you both for clarifying!