Do I have to pollinate?

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2busygardening Dade City, FL(Zone 9a) May 26, 2008

I am growing Bush Champion cucumbers. How do I know if I need to hand pollinate?

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) May 26, 2008

If a large number of females show up, but fail to grow.

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fremar Comer, GA(Zone 7b) May 26, 2008

OK farmer I'm dying to ask ....... how do you tell which is female?

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) May 26, 2008

The blossom will be sitting on a baby cucumber. The males just have a straight stem.

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fremar Comer, GA(Zone 7b) May 26, 2008

Thank you Farmer D , it's a good day when you can learn something new!

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2busygardening Dade City, FL(Zone 9a) May 26, 2008

Thank you. I will watch. I might not need to, however, because today when I was working out there I saw a bee. The first one I've seen, but maybe if there is one there will be more.

fingers crossed.

Thank you for the info.

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ly057 Port Saint Lucie, FL(Zone 9b) May 28, 2008

how do you hand pollinate cucumbers? i havent seen any bees buzzing around my garden either. ive noticed little ants that seem to do the pollinating on my peppers and eggplant. would hand pollinating follow the same procedure for other veggies?

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) May 28, 2008

Hand pollinate the same way you do squash and melons. Peppers, tomatoes and Eggplants as well as most other vegetables do not need insect pollination. On the cucurbits, you just take pollen from the male flower and transfer it to the female flower.

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ly057 Port Saint Lucie, FL(Zone 9b) May 28, 2008

should i hand pollinate my melons? i have some silver lines and some chantais or something or other along with water melons and white and orange pumpkins, should i just touch one flower and then touch another... on her naughty parts?

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) May 29, 2008

http://lubbock.tamu.edu/ipm/AgWeb/videos/peopleplace/squashPollination.html
http://www.zetatalk.com/food/tfood09s.htm
http://pollinator.com/squash.htm
http://pollinator.com/hand_pollination2.htm
http://cestanislaus.ucdavis.edu/files/228.htm

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MINancy Clinton Township, MI May 30, 2008

Personally, I don't rely on bees to 'do their thing' for cukes, melons, pumpkins, etc. The chances of the bee to 'hop male to female' is one I don't relay on. I have a small home garden so I don't plant tremendous amounts of any one plant. I use a really simple, cheap method that I have had great success with. I use a Q-Tip. I swipe several male flowers and with the Q-Tip and then swipe the females (of course I picture the females giggling as I pollinate!). Like I mentioned, cheap and quick, but I have had great success with this method.

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