Pollinating Mechanisms & Systems in Common Vegetable Crops

Crop Common Name	Crop Species	Primary Pollinating Mechanism(s)	Pollinating system	Wild Crossable Species in US
Onion	Allium cepa	insects	cross	N
Garlic	Allium sativum	insects	most are sterile	N
Garden Chives	Allium schoenoprasum	insects	cross	N
Garlic Chives	Allium tuberosum	insects	cross	N
Dill	Anethum graveolens	insects	cross	N
Celery	Apium graveolens	insects	cross	Y
Beet	Beta vulgaris	wind	cross	Y
Swiss Chard	Beta vulgaris	wind	cross	Y
Mustard	Brassica juncea	insects	cross	Y
Kale	Brassica napus	insects	cross	Y
Broccoli	Brassica oleracea	insects	cross	N
Brussels Sprouts	Brassica oleracea	insects	cross	N
Cabbage	Brassica oleracea	insects	cross	N
Cauliflower	Brassica oleracea	insects	cross	N
Collards	Brassica oleracea	insects	cross	N
Kale	Brassica oleracea	insects	cross	N
Chinese Cabbage	Brassica rapa	insects	cross	N
Mustard, Chinese	Brassica rapa	insects	cross	Y
Turnip	Brassica rapa	insects	cross	Y
Pepper	Capsicum annuum	self	self #3	N
Lambsquarters	Chenopodium album	wind	cross	Y
Escarole/ Endive	Cichorium endivia	self	self #2	N
Radicchio/ Belgian Endive	Cichorium intybus	insects	cross	Y
Watermelon	Citrullus lanatus	insects	cross	N
Cilantro	Coriandrum sativum	insects	cross	N
Crop Common Name	Crop Species	Primary Pollinating Mechanism(s)	Pollinating system	Wild Crossable Species in US
Armenian Cucumber	Cucumis melo	insects	cross	N
Cantaloupe Melon	Cucumis melo	insects	cross	N
Honeydew Melon	Cucumis melo	insects	cross	N
Musk Melon	Cucumis melo	insects	cross	N
Cucumber	Cucumis sativus	insects	cross	N
Pumpkin	Cucurbita pepo	insects	cross	Y
Winter Squash and Show Pumpkins	Cucurbita maxima	insects	cross	Y
Winter Squash	Cucurbita moshata	insects	cross	Y
Summer Squash and Fall Squash	Cucurbita pepo	insects	cross	Y
Carrot	Daucus carota	insects	cross	Y
Arugula	Eruca sativa	insects	cross	N
Fennel	Foeniculum vulgare	insects	cross	N
Lettuce	Lactuca sativa	self	self #1	Y
Gourds	Lagenaria siceraria	insects	cross	N
Tomato	Lycopersicon lycopersicum	self	self #1/#2	N
Basil	Ocimum basilicum	insects	cross	N
Parsley	Petroselinium crispum	insects	cross	N
Lima Bean	Phaseolus lanatus	self	self #2	N
Common Bean	Phaseolus vulgaris	self	self #1	N
Pea	Pisum sativum	self	self #1	N
Radish	Raphanus sativus	insects	cross	Y
Turkish Eggplant	Solanum gilo	self	self #2	N
Eggplant	Solanum melongena	self	self #2	N
Spinach	Spinacea oleracea	wind	cross	N
Fava Bean	Vicia faba	self	self #2	N
Cowpea	Vigna unguiculata	self	self #2	N
Corn	Zea mays	wind	cross	N
Self #1: self pollinating species, outcrossing is usually < 1%
Self #2: self-pollinating species that often outcross between 2-5%
Self #3: self-pollinating species that may cross at rates > 5%