David in Normandy writes
Bob Hobden says...

"David in Normandy" wrote
Would I be correct in saying the key thing for pollination
of a bramley apple tree is that there is another (different
variety) apple tree in flower nearby at the same time?

My books made apple tree pollination sound very complex
with lists of what will pollinate what and whether is is in
group one, two or three, but a web site I've just visited
implied that it simply comes down to having apple trees
that flower at the same time - is this the case?

I thought you needed two pollinators for Bramley.



I've just Googled a bit more and it looks like you may be
right. It seems Bramley apples are a bit different to other
apple varieties in being something called "Triploid" which
means it needs two different pollinators to set the
flowers. Strange.

I don't think it needs two pollinators, it's just that it won't
pollinate the pollinator so you need a second variety to pollinate the
pollinator
--
Kay