How to Hand Pollinate Zucchini and Squash to Prevent End Rot, Increase Yields

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Have you ever tried to arise courgette or other squash , but much to your dismay , the promising little yield bunk and falls off rather of get to fledged size ? The squash flower mostly in all probability did n’t get pollinated , but it’sreally easyto do yourself ! This quick tutorial will show you just how to hand pollenate zucchini and other types of squash to prevent close rot and increase proceeds . I ’ve also addressed some frequently inquire question , and include a manifestation video .

These peak apply to hand pollinatingsummer squash(e.g . courgette , patty pan , or crookneck squash ) as well aswinter squashlike butternut , pumpkins , or acorn squash . As fellow members of the cucurbit family line , you may use the same method to give pollinatecucumbersand melonstoo !

Zucchini flowers are forming on a squash plant. Some of the flowers are male and a few are female flowers attached to the ends of small zucchini.

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A photo of large zucchini plant in a wood raised bed. There are large zucchini fruit hanging down over the edge of the planter box. In the background are a variety of large plants with flowers, out of focus. The raised bed is surrounded with blue-green gravel and stepping stones.

What happens when zucchini flowers aren’t pollinated?

When a female squash bloom does n’t get pollinated , the small-scale attached yield will fail to make grow . It will continue scrubby , start to rot from the flower remainder , and eventuallydie and fall off . Therefore , if you want to insure your plant make plenty of comestible squash vine for you to delight , hired hand pollinate zucchini can vastly increase their success – and your production !

If your garden has ahealthy bee population , they may pollinate the flowers for you . Yet even here in our garden , which is bursting withpollinator plantsand buzzing with bees , we still incur that some crush develop conclusion rot due to want of pollination on juncture ! So I still routinely hand - pollinate . Why not ensure winner ?

Male vs Female Zucchini Flowers

In monastic order to hand cross-pollinate squash , you ’ll need to be capable to identify the difference of opinion between the male and female flowers . Both play an of import role in pollenation and fruit exploitation !

Afemalezucchini flower is most easy identify by the littleimmature squash fruitattached at the al-Qa’ida of the flush . For other type of cucurbits , you ’ll see the same affair : a tiny butternut squash , tiny cucumber , or tiny melon at the base of the female efflorescence . Additionally , if you peek inside the flower , the inner bit are more rotund and full-bosomed . That ’s called the stigma .

On the adverse , amalezucchini flower has aplain true stemat the al-Qa’ida of the flower rather than a small yield . Inside is the anther : a straight appendage with a pollen - cover tip . See the images below .

Two un-pollinated zucchini are being held as the squash weren’t hand pollinated in time.

How to Hand Pollinate Squash

To hand pollinate zucchini and squash , first name both an open virile and female flower . Then simplytransfer pollen from the manful flower ’s anther onto the distaff flower ’s stigma . It ’s so easy to do , and just a pocket-size amount of pollen will do the line of work ! Here are a few different methods you may employ to transfer pollen from the male person to distaff blossom :

When to Hand Pollinate Squash

It ’s best to hand pollinate courgette and mash flowers as soon as they open up ( the same day if potential ) .

I ’ve found that most crush blossomsopen in the morningand near up by the evening , so checking day by day is significant if you need to pollinate them all . However , sometimes they can unfold at various times of twenty-four hour period , so break of day is n’t inevitably a steadfast warranty .

If you lose the initial blossom – do n’t fret ! You cancarefully pare openthe peak ( once they have already opened and close ) to get at their interior for a couple daytime after if needed . This goes for both males and distaff flower , which is just one more reason to not pick off the males .

Four images difference between male and female zucchini flowers. One shows a male, with a straight pollen covered anther inside the blossom. The female shows a more bulbous stigma part inside. At the base of the male is a straight stem. The female flower has a small immature zucchini.

What if I only have male or female zucchini flowers?

Some gardener get frustrated because their plants grow only male bloom , or only distaff flowers , but not both at the same time . Do n’t worry . It ’s not uncommon for squash plants to produce one or the other more intemperately early in the time of year . Theyshould naturally even outas the plant life matures , usually within a few weeks .

Veryhot weathercan also make courgette plants produce more male flowers . It may be worthwhile to protect your plants withshade clothduring prolonged hotness over 95 ° farad . We always grow several squash works to help secure there will be a good mixture of male and female efflorescence open around the same fourth dimension .

Can I use different squash varieties to hand pollinate each other?

Absolutely . While it ’s ideal to use like varieties when possible , you may also use the pollen from unlike miscellany of squash rackets to handwriting - pollinate others when needed . bee do n’t single out and will naturally sweep - pollinate between your plants after all ! The squash racquets will educate just fine .

However , for the better yield development , attempt to beat to the same worldwide family by keepingsummer squash and winter squash freestanding . For instance , use the male peak of a chicken crookneck squelch to cross-pollinate a immature zucchini female , or a butternut squash to pollinate a pumpkin .

After mark - pollenation , you wo n’t be capable tosave seedsfrom those fruit since the next generation will not “ engender true ” to the parent plant variety . Again , this would likely be the case with natural bee pollination between varieties in your garden anyway .

A squash plant with two large flowers next to each other, one is a male flower and the other is a female flower.

Demonstration Video

Do n’t mind my mother wit of humor !

That concludes this lesson on hand pollination.

Now go have fun diddlin ’ some squash of your own ! I hope you found this helpful , and that you ’re blessed with mass of healthy zucchini this summer . Please feel barren to ask any questions , and distribute the love by share or refresh this post .

If you find yourself with some bombastic overgrown squash rackets , you should try ourFiesta - Style Stuffed Squash recipe!Loaded with wild rice , black beans , veg , flavour , and protein … you ca n’t go wrong . Or check out the other courgette formula below :

How to Hand Pollinate Zucchini and Squash (Prevent End Rot, Increase Yields)

Equipment

Instructions

Notes

A paint brush is covered in yellow pollen. A large female flower is in the background, the pollen will be used to hand pollinate the squash flower.

A paintbrush is inside the male squash blossom, collecting pollen which will be used to hand pollinate a female squash flower.

A male zucchini flower has been peeled back to reveal the pollen producing anther. A female squash flower is below where it will be hand pollinated with the male flower.

The inside of a female squash flower contains at least three bees surrounding the inside of the flower so there is less of a need to hand pollinate this squash now.

Many raised garden beds set on a gravel hardscape. They all contain hoops with some having shade cloth attached to the hoops while the others have insect netting attached to the hoops.