How to Hand Pollinate Zucchini, Winter Squash, or Pumpkins

Blossoms on squash plants may be male or female. .

Vegetables such as zucchini, winter squash and pumpkins depend on pollination for a good crop. Sometimes this is a problem for home gardeners. If there is a shortage of beneficial insects or the plants are grown under cover there may be a sparse harvest. Hand pollinating flowers is as easy as figuring out which are male or female and bringing them both together.

Instructions

1. Look at the flowers on the plant that is going to be pollinated. Female flowers have swelling at the base of the flower, males don't. The flowers themselves are large and yellow.

2. Gently pull away the petals of a male flower to the expose the stamens.

3. Insert the male flower in to the female flower to add pollen. Be gentle.

4. Some recommend gently tying the petals of the pollinated flower closed with twine to protect it. This prevents cross-pollination if several different types of squash are grown close together. Do this gently and the whole thing falls off when the vegetable begins to grow.

5. Pollination is successful when the flower dries up and falls off as the new vegetable begins to grow.

Tips & Warnings

• This is best done early in the morning when the female flowers first open.

References

• University of Florida Extension: Hand Pollination of Squash and Corn in Home Gardens

Resources

• Pumpkin Nook: Pollination