When pollination isn’t happening naturally in your garden, it’s up to you to transfer that pollen by hand pollinating female flowers. There are lots of easy ways to transfer pollen from flower to flower, but the most important thing to remember is that the pollen needs to move from the male flower to the female flower. The best time to transfer pollen is during the bright daylight hours early in the morning, when the flowers are naturally open. Squash flowers open early in the morning and close in the evening, so don't miss your chance!
Male and female Squash flowers
Male Squash Flower
Males flowers form on the plant first and bloom much earlier in the season. The stem of male squash flower below the blossoms are long and thin. In the center of the flower, there’s a long and narrow protrusion that sticks out. This pollen-covered appendage is called the anther. If you like, you can eat squash flowers. They are excellent for both cooking and enjoying raw. (ads1)
Female Squash Flower
A female squash flower is most easily identified by the little immature squash fruit that is attached at the base of the flower.
When you look at the flowers, you’ll see a stigma inside the flower. There is a raised orange structure in the center of the stigma and that is where you will apply the pollen when you perform hand pollinating.
Hand Pollinating Squash Flowers
When you compare male and female flowers side by side, it's easy to see the differences. Male squash flowers have a straight stem behind the bloom with no swelling. Just look inside the flower, and you can see the stamens, which carry the pollen.
Simply take a male anther and touch it to the female stigma a couple of times, as if brushing paint. This will be enough to pollinate the stigma, which will then produce squash. You should repeat this step with every new female flower every day, so you’ll get as many squash from your plant as possible. After you hand pollinate the female squash, the flower will close up in the evening and remain closed for two days.
If you have succeeded in pollination, the flower will wilt and fall off, but the miniature squash will remain on the stem. This tiny squash will swell in size until it’s ready for harvest, and you’ll finally be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Watch How to Hand Pollinate Squash Flowers Video
Now that you know that hand pollination, squash flowers, requires no special skills or tools. All you have to do is be able to identify male and female flowers, and apply these simple tasks on your squash plants, this is very easy to do!
Happy Organic Gardening!
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