Hand pollination of Cucurbits

Hand pollination of Cucurbits is often necessary as they commonly exhibit poor pollination by fruit abortion, fruit deformity or poor maturation. Hand pollination is only an option on a small scale, but is a common technique by gardeners.

The flowers of Cucurbits are unisexual, with male and female flowers on different plants (dioecious) or on the same plant (monoecious). The female flowers have inferior ovaries.

Pollinating Cucurbits is done most easily by removing the corolla from male flowers and brushing the flower itself against the stigmas of female flowers.

Examples

The petals of a male flower are folded back to reveal the anther

The male flower is positioned over a female flower

The male anther is inserted into the female such that pollen is rubbed onto the stigma