How to Hand-Pollinate Gourds
Gourds are members of the Cucurbitaceae family. A close relative of cucumbers, zucchini, and pumpkins, these tropical vines are grown primarily for their unusual, showy fruits. The inedible fruit is frequently dried and used for decorative purposes. A single vine bears both female and male blossoms, and the pollen grains are generally transferred from one to the other by wind, rain or insects. However, to increase the odds of successful fertilization, many gardeners transfer the pollen by hand. Not only does this improve the productivity of the vine, it reduces the risk of unwanted cross-pollination between similar plants. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Approach the vine just before sunset; this is when the flowers of most gourds are open and can, therefore, be pollinated.
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Inspect the vine, and visually sort the female flowers from the males. Female flowers can be differentiated by the small bump located directly beneath the base of the blossom. The ratio of males to females varies from one type of gourd to another, though typically, males appear on the vine first and outnumber females.
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Pull a male flower from the vine and gently remove the petals, exposing the stamen. This is the thin, slender stalk located inside the blossom.
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Insert the stamen of the male flower into the center of a female flower, and give it a light shake to knock the pollen loose.
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Shine a flashlight into the female flower to inspect the interior flower walls. They should look dull, rather than shiny, and should appear to be coated in powder.
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Move from one end of the vine to the other, using one male flower for every three to four females. Discard the male flower and replace it with a fresh bloom when the pollen is no longer evident on the surfaces of the female blossom.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images
