General information and discussion about cultivating melons, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and gourds.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Southwest Florida
Posts: 111
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I've never grown cucumbers before and thought I'd try hand pollinating a few flowers because I hardly ever see bees in my yard. Do cucumbers typically have less pollen than other cucurbits? I've pollinated melons before and seems like if you rub the male flower on the stigma of the female, the stigma is caked in yellow pollen. I'm having a hard time noticing if any pollen is transferring even when using a small paintbrush that has white bristles to collect pollen from the male. Seems like there is no pollen in the male. Is it possible that the first set of flowers don't have pollen yet? It's been 2 days since I first tried and I can't tell whether or not the pollination took. The variety is Boston Pickling Cucumber. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: 2 miles south of Yoknapatawpha Zone 7b
Posts: 662
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The female flowers are on the end of a lilttle cucumber. If it doesn't get fertilized the little cucumber will turn yellow and drop off.
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 46
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I got tired of trying to hand-pollinate cucumbers so I only grow parthenocarpic varieties now..
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 5,931
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Often the first blooms of regular OP cucumbers are all males. What variety? You can google photos of male and female cucumber blossoms to compare with yours.
KarenO |
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Indialantic, Florida
Posts: 2,000
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Agree with KarenO; Give it more time; the bees will come.
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Southwest Florida
Posts: 111
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Bees showed up. There's so many flowers on these plants it's unreal. I kept more plants than I should of, but I couldn't help myself. They are Boston pickling cucumbers and I have them in an earthbox, with the recommended 4 per box, but I kept 2 plants per spot for a total of 8. They've grown incredibly with 2 square tomato cages placed side by side. I ended up adding 6' bamboo stakes at each corner because they grew too tall. I have about 8 bees that work on them all day and so far pollination seems pretty good. This week I harvested enough cucumbers to ferment 3 quarts of kosher dills.
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#7 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 5,931
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![]() Quote:
![]() KarenO |
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7
Posts: 4,916
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If you see bees, bumble bees, butterflies ,... probably there is no need for hand pollinating. But it is simple to do.
Pick a male flower, gently without shaking too much. Remove the petals , gently or fold back. Take it tofamale flowers and make them kiss ![]() ![]()
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Gardeneer Happy Gardening ! |
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