Pollination is pivotal to a successful squash harvest but doesn’t always go as planned. Pollinators may be in short supply or the weather may not allow for the buzzing activity necessary to produce squash fruits. That’s where hand pollination comes in.
Pollinating squash plants by yourself can help you maximize your harvest within minutes. And you don’t need complicated tools or specialist knowledge to get it right. Hand pollination is possible. In four simple steps (or only three if using a paintbrush).. Try it and you will see.
Pollination: Why it is important
Pollination is vital for plant growth and reproduction. But pollination isn’t exactly the same for all plants.
Some plants produce male and feminine flowers or parts of both male and female flowers in the same flower. Some plants need cross-pollination with other plants to produce fruit.
Squash plants have male and feminine flowers that are separate on the same plant. Pollen must be transferred between the male and female flowers for fruit to form. It is necessary for fruit development, otherwise the fruits will not develop or the flowers will fall off the plant.
This means that your squash harvest is dependent on pollinators such as bees. Declining pollinator populations, therefore, also mean a decline in your squash harvest – one of the reasons why attracting and supporting pollinators is so essential.
The time of the year and weather can also influence how active your pollinators are. It may also be difficult for the pollinators of your garden to reach plants that are grown in enclosed spaces like greenhouses.
Pollinating your own plants is another way to take matters in your own (literal) hands. Pollinators are not the only thing that can pollinate your plants. The hand-pollination method is the best way to guarantee your success and increase your yield..
Hand Pollination: Its Benefits
There are many different kinds of Hand pollination has many benefits. These are mainly for commercial farmers or growers, but gardeners at home can also benefit.
Replacing Lost Pollinators
Pollinators are important for all plants that flower, including squash. While there are ways to attract more bees and other pollinators to your garden, this can be a slow process and doesn’t guarantee your squash plants, in particular, will be pollinated.
Encourage pollinators to your backyard It is always a smart idea to hand pollinate, especially if the population in your area is very low.
Increasing Yield
Squash plants are easy to grow. The ultimate goal of fruit is always to have a lot of it. But you won’t get as many fruits as possible if female flowers go unpollinated, eventually dropping off the plant.
Hand pollination will ensure that as many females as possible produce fruit. Pollinating plants will ensure that female flowers are able to produce.
Save Seeds
Cross-pollination is likely if you’re growing a few different types of squash in your garden. Unfortunately, if you’ve found a variety you like, this impacts your ability to grow the same plant from seed the following season.
Hand pollination of male and female flowers in the same plant Ensure that any seeds you collect will produce the same variety of squash As long as bees do not accidentally cross-pollinate, this is possible.
Easy to Complete
Hand pollination is a simple process. If you know what you’re looking for, it won’t take you more than five minutes, and you don’t need any tools to get started.
Male vs. Female Squash Flowers
You must be able hand-pollinate your plants before you start. Identify male and female flowers on your squash plants.
In many squash types, the male flowers are the first to appear. These flowers have straight stalks in front and a center stamen that contains pollen. Squash plants often have more female flowers than male, but the weather can also affect this.
The female flowers are easily identifiable. Rather than straight stems, they have a bulge at the base – the immature fruit. You’ll see the stigma in the center if you open the flower. If pollinated, each of these flowers can turn into a whole fruit.
The squash should have both of its flowers ready to be pollinated. Wait a few days if the pollen is not loose in the male flowers or if there are only a few females.
How to Hand-Pollinate the Squash Plants
When you’re ready to pollinate, you don’t need to grab any specialized tools. You might want to Use a paintbrush that has a softer bristle, but even this is unnecessary if you’re willing to sacrifice the male flowers.
Step 1: Identify male flowers
Start by identifying the male flowers that are open on your squash plant. The pollen When brushed, the brush should remove the scum rather than sticking to the stamen, but don’t disturb them too much to keep as much pollen on the anther as possible. You shouldn’t have any trouble if the flower is fully opened.
Step 2: Select the Flowers
Once you’ve chosen a flower prime for pollination, you can pull it off the plant. Since these flowers won’t turn into fruits and will eventually drop off the plant in a couple of days, you won’t be compromising any of your harvest by removing them.
To keep the structure intact, cut them off at their stem. Pull gently on the stamen to prevent any pollen falling off.
Grab a paintbrush instead if you prefer to leave the flowers on the plant – perhaps for later harvesting and use in the kitchen. To catch as much pollen possible, soft-bristled brush is recommended.
The loose pollen can be collected by dabbing the brush on the anthers. The brush will become a golden-yellow color, with flecks of pollen. The brush can be used to remove the flakes of pollen. Transfer the pollen carefully to the female flowers.
Cotton balls and other tools with sticky, loose fibers should be avoided. Pollen will stick more to these fibers rather than be transferred to the flower. A soft paintbrush won’t trap as much pollen, giving you a higher chance of success.
Open the Petals
Next, you’ll need to expose the stamen of a female flower to easily transfer pollen to the stigma. You’re turning the male flower into its own paintbrush, with the anther at the end.
For easy access, you can pull the petals back slightly to expose the stamen. You can also pull the petals off completely if you don’t plan to use the flower for anything else.
No matter what route you take, protect the stamen at the center. It is important that you protect the stamens in the middle, regardless of which route you choose. Pollen must be held as much as possible To pollinate a female flower or flowers.
Step 4: Brush Pollen on to a female flower
Look for female flowers, and make sure the stigma in the middle is visible. Next, just like any pollinator will do, transfer the pollen by dabbing on the anther. Grab the base and the flower. Gently rub the two structures to transfer the pollen.
It’s that easy! You can discard the male flower once you’ve hand-pollinated all the female flowers. Within a couple of days, you’ll notice more swelling at the base of the female flower, indicating your pollination efforts were successful.
If any immature fruits aren’t growing and start to rot, it’s best to cut them off the plant. These fruits will take energy from the plant that could be used for healthy and viable fruit. You can trim your squash and enjoy it in just a few weeks.
Final Thoughts
Hand pollination may sound complicated, but it’s a simple process that can Increase your harvest with minimum effort. There’s no reason not to give it a go this season!