Kiwifruit
Pollination Solutions
Actinidia Deliciosa
Effective kiwifruit pollination is essential for achieving reliable fruit set and high-quality fruit development. As kiwifruit plants produce separate male and female flowers, effective pollen transfer between plants is critical during the flowering period.
Zonda bumblebee hives support New Zealand kiwifruit growers with reliable, orchard-scale pollination throughout flowering.
Kiwifruit Flower Biology
- Kiwifruit plants are either male or female, each producing only one flower type.
- Female flowers contain stamens, but the pollen they produce is not viable. Pollen must be transferred from male to female plants for successful fruit set.
- Neither flower type produces nectar, making pollination entirely dependent on insect activity. Reliable movement between male and female plants is essential for effective pollen transfer.
- Visible signs of bumblebee visits are limited, making consistent insect activity throughout flowering critical for achieving reliable fruit set.
Managed Bumblebee Pollination for Kiwifruit Orchards
Bumblebee pollination supports reliable cross-pollination between compatible kiwifruit varieties during the blossom period.
Bumblebees are well suited to commercial orchard pollination because they:
- Remain active in cooler early spring conditions
- Exhibit strong foraging behaviour across orchard rows
- Move effectively between polliniser varieties
- Provide consistent pollination activity during peak bloom
Reliable pollination improves fruit set, supports fruit uniformity and contributes to consistent crop development.
When to introduce Bumblebee Hives for Kiwifruit Pollination
For pollination of kiwifruit crops, a minimum of 9 LARGE colonies per hectare are necessary if no other pollinators are present. 5-6 LARGE colonies per hectare are recommended in conjunction with honey bees.
On delivery, a LARGE colony contains 80–110 worker bees and a queen, with a typical lifespan of four to six weeks depending on crop conditions.
Hives should be introduced at early bloom to ensure colonies establish foraging patterns before peak flowering. Even distribution throughout orchard blocks encourages effective cross-pollination between compatible varieties.
Colony density may be adjusted depending on orchard layout, tree age, bloom intensity and the presence of additional pollinating insects.
Bumblebee Hives for Kiwifruit Orchards
Explore Zonda Beneficials bumblebee hives for outdoor crop pollination to support kiwifruit production.
Large Hive
1100 m² to 1500 m²
Contains approximately 80–100 worker bees.
Bumblebee Hive Placement and Use
- Introduce colonies when the first flowers are open.
- Place hives on a sturdy support approximately 50 cm above the ground — sunny in spring, shaded later in the season.
- Secure hives to prevent ant access.
- After placement, allow bees to settle for 30–60 minutes before opening the flight hole. They will begin pollinating shortly after their initial orientation flights.
- Bumblebees are most active between 15–25°C, and will work in temperatures from 10–30°C.
Bumblebee Safety and Crop Protection
- Bumblebees are compatible with natural enemies and biological control programmes.
- Agricultural chemicals can affect bumblebees directly (killing workers or larvae through contact or ingestion) or indirectly (treated flowers may deter foraging visits).
- Systemic pesticides can have long-lasting effects. In crops that produce both nectar and pollen (e.g. sweet pepper), the impact on the colony can be significantly greater than in pollen-only crops (e.g. tomato).
- Detailed information on pesticide compatibility is available in Zonda’s Side Effects Guide.
- Before any crop treatment, activate the BEEHOME option to allow bees to enter but not leave the hive. After approximately one hour, the hive can be fully closed and either covered or removed from the crop.
- If temporarily removed, store the hive at 18–20°C.