Understanding Pollination in Your Vegetable Garden: Squash, Tomatoes, and Hand Pollination

Squash Pollination

Squash, cucumber, gourd, pumpkin, and watermelon have separate male and female flowers. Males appear first (no fruit). Females have a tiny fruit at the base. A bee must visit a female flower at least three times for full pollination; one visit yields partial pollination and misshapen fruit.

Hand pollinate: remove a male flower, strip petals, and press the pollen-laden stamen into the center of a female flower.

Tomato Pollination

Tomatoes have perfect flowers (both sexes). Pollen usually self-transfers, but hot/humid weather makes pollen sticky. Tap flower clusters daily with a twig to release pollen.

Set the Mood

Humming "Some Enchanted Evening" or "Love Is in the Air" while pollinating adds fun!