Even a healthy rapidly growing sea buckthorn can not give a single berry for years. Many blame a bad variety, poor soil or the age of the plant in this. But the real reason is much simpler. This is the absence of the pollinator.
Dioecious: the key to unraveling
Sea buckthorn is a dioecious plant. This means that female and men's flowers grow on different trees. Without a pair of the opposite sex, the ovaries are not formed. A lonely bush, even with abundant flowering, will never give a crop.
How to distinguish a tree in kidneys
You can determine the gender of sea buckthorn 2-3 years after planting. In men's specimens, the kidneys are large, rounded and seemingly swollen. In female, they are elongated and sharp, similar to the tip of the arrow. If the site is only “girls”, it is time to urgently look for the “groom” for them.
How much is needed and how to plant
One men's bush is enough for 5-6 women, but only if it is planted within a radius of not more than 10 meters. It is perfect to place it from the leeward side so that pollen is easier to tolerate by the wind. Keep in mind that the male tree does not give fruits, so inexperienced gardeners often cut it out, considering it useless.
Not all bushes bloom at the same time
It also happens that there are trees of different sexes, but they do not bloom at the same time. In this case, pollination will not happen, and the berries will not appear. It is especially important to consider the coincidence of flowering time when buying seedlings. This is critical for regions with a short spring.
