How to Pollinate Cucumber Plants

Cucumber plants, as with many other vining plants, grow male and female flowers. The flowers act much in the same way as reproduction in animals, in the sense that the male blooms must fertilize the females for new life to grow. Cucumber flower pollination generally occurs naturally, often from the help of bees, but they may require some help in heavily controlled environments where insects are absent. Hand pollination can be time consuming but just as effective as the more natural methods.

Small paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Identify the differences between the male and female flowers. Male flowers typically grow in groups of three, have slender stems and contain three long stamens in the center of the bloom. Female flowers grow in singles, generally are much wider and have a long, thick ovary -- similar in appearance to a tiny cucumber -- at the base of the bloom.
- 2
  Stick a small paintbrush inside one of the male flowers and brush the stamens to pick up the pollen. The brush should have a noticeable light-yellow powder. Brush the inside of one or more additional flowers if the pollen is not present.
- 3
  Stick the brush into a female flower and rub it against the stigma. Be very gentle to avoid damage to the flower.
- 4
  Repeat the process on all additional flowers.

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