Pollination: the bird and the bees....
Some plants are self pollinators and some need bees to do the pollination. Squash, melons and cucumbers all require a bee to do the pollinating. In my neighborhood, there aren't very many flowers or gardens therefore there aren't very many bees. This is a problem for an eager young gardener like me. For gardeners who do not have bees there are several options to explore- the first being hand pollination. Hand pollination sounds more complicated than it really is. All you need to know is the difference between and male and female flower and you're ready to roll. So let's begin with a plant anatomy lesson shall we?
Oh boy!
Typically, the first flower blossoms that bloom on squash, cucumbers or melons are male. They are bright yellow flowers that open very early in the morning. Male flowers are always on longer stems than females. There are many more males than females and seem to be positioned to show off more than a female...sound familiar? This is for good reason though. Several male flowers open approximately a week prior to the female flowers. This is because the males are training the bees and getting them to the area. Then, when a female flower does open for those brief hours it will be showtime. On squash, these flowers are only open for one day. You can tell a flower is male for two different reasons. The first is that the stem leading up to the flower looks like a plain old stem. The second is the inside of the flower. It's called a stamen and looks like a yellow Q-tip. This is where the pollen is produced. The goal is for the bee to get the pollen from the male to the female. By the way, I have read several different places that male squash blossoms are amazing breaded and deep fried although I have to say most anything is amazing breaded and deep fried.
Typically, the first flower blossoms that bloom on squash, cucumbers or melons are male. They are bright yellow flowers that open very early in the morning. Male flowers are always on longer stems than females. There are many more males than females and seem to be positioned to show off more than a female...sound familiar? This is for good reason though. Several male flowers open approximately a week prior to the female flowers. This is because the males are training the bees and getting them to the area. Then, when a female flower does open for those brief hours it will be showtime. On squash, these flowers are only open for one day. You can tell a flower is male for two different reasons. The first is that the stem leading up to the flower looks like a plain old stem. The second is the inside of the flower. It's called a stamen and looks like a yellow Q-tip. This is where the pollen is produced. The goal is for the bee to get the pollen from the male to the female. By the way, I have read several different places that male squash blossoms are amazing breaded and deep fried although I have to say most anything is amazing breaded and deep fried.
The female flower is pretty obvious. First, you will see a small squash just below the flower. This is essentially like an unfertilized ovary. Second, the inside of the flower looks like a cup and is called a pistil. There are less females than males and they tend to be closer to the inside of the plant.
Every morning i head out to the garden to see if I have any flowers that are open. Open males really aren't important. I look for open females. If there are open female flowers then I take a clean make up brush and gently brush it on the male flower to collect pollen and go over to the female flower and brush the collected pollen onto the pistil. This literally takes 30 seconds to do. If a female flower isn't pollinated when open, then the tiny little squash that was there will shrivel up and fall off. You will know within a couple of days if pollination was successful because if it was that squash starts growing like nobody's business!
Every morning i head out to the garden to see if I have any flowers that are open. Open males really aren't important. I look for open females. If there are open female flowers then I take a clean make up brush and gently brush it on the male flower to collect pollen and go over to the female flower and brush the collected pollen onto the pistil. This literally takes 30 seconds to do. If a female flower isn't pollinated when open, then the tiny little squash that was there will shrivel up and fall off. You will know within a couple of days if pollination was successful because if it was that squash starts growing like nobody's business!
It's a beautiful baby squash.....
This is the very first squash I ever hand pollinated. It's an 8 ball zucchini and will be ready to pick in a few days!
This is the very first squash I ever hand pollinated. It's an 8 ball zucchini and will be ready to pick in a few days!
Step by step...
Collect the pollen
I use a clean make up brush because I realized they were designed to pick up dry powdery substances (eyeshadow) and release it on to the eyelid. I find the hairs on the brush pick up pollen and release it more easily than a q-tip. I put the brush onto the center of the male flower and pull the brush towards me to collect the pollen.
I use a clean make up brush because I realized they were designed to pick up dry powdery substances (eyeshadow) and release it on to the eyelid. I find the hairs on the brush pick up pollen and release it more easily than a q-tip. I put the brush onto the center of the male flower and pull the brush towards me to collect the pollen.
Make note which side of the brush the pollen was placed on.
Transfer the pollen
Place the pollen within the desired female flower. I just gently brush the pollen onto the pistil.
Place the pollen within the desired female flower. I just gently brush the pollen onto the pistil.
Success
The squash flowers open in the morning and begin closing in the afternoon. This part is the waiting game to see if pollination was successful. You will know within a few days by looking at the squash. If pollination was successful the zucchini would stay green and begin growing at a feverish pace.
The squash flowers open in the morning and begin closing in the afternoon. This part is the waiting game to see if pollination was successful. You will know within a few days by looking at the squash. If pollination was successful the zucchini would stay green and begin growing at a feverish pace.
Missed Opportunity
The little zucchini in the middle of the picture is an example of a squash that wasn't pollinated. The flower quickly dies and the zucchini is actually turning from green to yellow. In a few days, it will just fall off.
The little zucchini in the middle of the picture is an example of a squash that wasn't pollinated. The flower quickly dies and the zucchini is actually turning from green to yellow. In a few days, it will just fall off.