Anyone who ’s ever turn squash rackets or related to cucurbit veg ( Cucumis sativus , melon , mash , and pumpkin ) has feel the suffering of licking when a distaff peak flunk to get cross-pollinate , leave in a flyspeck yield that die out rather than mature .
This materialize more often than it should , peculiarly in these day of decline bee population .
Well , while bee run to be ready to hand niggling pollinator , you do n’t have to leave alone pollenation to Mother Nature .
you’ve got the option to do it yourself !
step to pass pollinate Cucurbit veg
1 .
notice the pollen .
Unless you need to slip it from the bee themselves ( not a in force estimation ) , await for a yellow or green pulverisation on the last of anther ; the manlike stalk that hold fast out of the substance of the manly flush .
This was if you necessitate aid describe , be certain to see out the picture below .
habituate a infertile cotton fiber mop or diffused paintbrush to softly pass over some of the pollen off the anther .
How to apply
1 .
incur the pollen .
Unless you need to slip it from the bee themselves ( not a skilful approximation ) , reckon for a xanthous or dark-green gunpowder on the goal of anther ; the manly shuck that pose out of the nitty-gritty of the manful peak .
This was if you ask aid name , be certain to insure out the picture below .
practice a unfertile cotton fiber swob or diffuse paintbrush to softly pass over some of the pollen off the anther .
Move to distaff bloom , and tapdance the pollen mildly onto another peak ’s brand .
Make certain that a pregnant amount of pollen stick to the stain .
Keep reprize this outgrowth until all the flower are cross-pollinate , and then ill-use back and await for the yield to issue .
It adopt a minuscule exertion , but it ’ll be deserving it in the closing .
Hand Pollination for Seed Collection
For more advance paw pollenation bakshish for rearing and germ collection , judge this with tomato : Hand Pollination of Tomato for Breeding and Seed Productionfrom UF / IFAS Extension ServicePlant Breeding as a Hobby : fundamental principle of Plant Reproductionfrom College of Illinois College of Agricultural , Consumer and Environmental Sciences
With tomato and other yield and veggie , you’ve got the option to give pollenate or give your works a blue handshake for in force pollenation .
This was most of your vegetable will have sodding peak with both the pistil and stamen within the same prime .
For these , you might even move to another flora with the pollen of the same case to control familial variety , which should aid make the lead yield healthier .
mark : there are a few works ( spinach plant , edible asparagus ) that will have male person / distaff peak on unlike plant .
require to con more about hand pollination of veggie ?
Home Vegetable Garden technique : Hand Pollination of Squash and Corn in Small Gardensfrom UF / IFAS Extension ServiceFruit Set Problems in Squash , Melons , and Cucumbers In Home Gardensfrom University of California Cooperative Extension
