How to Hand Pollinate Cucumber Flowers in 5 Seconds | Balconia Garden

[@SecondHandPoet1]

You sound like you're having so much fun! I love watching your videos. Thanks, Kitty.

[@balconiagarden]

I am! Thanks, Neil! You're a treasure :)

[@insfieldtrip]

That was so fascinating 🤩

[@balconiagarden]

😂😂 glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@seamanjive]

Just what i was looking for...thx

[@balconiagarden]

You're welcome 😍

[@amarchadbagan8667]

Khub sundor pilant

[@balconiagarden]

:)

[@syedali1790]

Hi....How many female flowers one can pollinate using just one male flower? Or, it has to be just one to one relationship?

[@balconiagarden]

Hi Syed, that's a great question, as far as I know you can use the same male flower to pollinate more than one female flower. I've always done it like that and have had no problems. The key to is make sure the pollen grains reach the female stigma. Hope that helps 😊

[@shirleyemerson]

Do you have to do every bloom or just one?

[@balconiagarden]

Hi Shirley, just the female ones. Also just to be sure they are fertilised, it could be the pollinators have already done it but no harm in doing it again 👌🏻

[@by1067]

Do u pollinate all female flowers. Or just one flower per plant needs to be pollinate

[@balconiagarden]

Each female flower needs to be fertilised for the baby cucumber to grow 🥒

[@mildredhennings8428]

Thx

[@balconiagarden]

You're welcome, Mildred 😊

[@karmen9514]

Should you actually see the pollen? I can't visibly see the pollen so im not sure if I'm doing anything

[@balconiagarden]

Hi Karmen, yes you should be able to see the grains although they're very small. I would try it out and wait to see if the cucumbers grow, could be you're doing it right 🙂

[@cynthiaracimo1768]

Do I have to one by one hand pollinate all the female flowers to produce fruits? Isn't that a bit tedious?

[@balconiagarden]

Depends if you want cukes or not 🤗Normally pollination is done by pollinators but if you are growing your cukes under glass, indoors or you just notice that youre not getting a great harvest then hand pollination is a good option.

[@catapultx4411]

How do you know when your female flower has been pollinated? Is there some kind of difference in change?

[@balconiagarden]

Hello, it's a waiting game I'm afraid although the growth in the cucumber should be relatively quick. Once you see it swelling that means its been pollinated 🥒

[@albcan3549]

The flowers have fallen off the female cucumbers!, is there another way of pollinating them?. Today I saw bumblebee going from plant to plant, is that a good news?

[@balconiagarden]

Hey, it could either be that they're aren't enough pollinators around to pollinate the flowers or they're not getting enough water and/or consistent watering. You said there was a bee, that's great! They do the work for you hopefully. I would still try to hand pollinate and see if the flowers stop dropping. If you're fertilising but they're still falling it's probably a watering issue. Good luck 👍 🙂

[@Onnibay76]

Can I use pollen from a male zucchini to pollinate a female cucumber?

[@balconiagarden]

Yes you can although I have never tried it so I can't say it worked from my own experience. Zucchinis and cucumbers are from the same family Cucurbitaceae so they can cross pollinate and if planted near to each other then cross pollination is likely to occur. The chances are you'll end up with edible produce, whether the fruit will have viable seeds is another story. I'd give it a go and see what happens 🙂

[@deniace2274]

What happens if it is all males?

[@balconiagarden]

Hi Deni, cucumbers plants should always produce both male and female flowers, here there are a few reasons why there are only male flowers: 1)The vine is young. Male flowers always grow first followed by the female flowers so allow the vine to grow more and female flowers should come. 2)not enough water. Soil should be moist not saturated. 3)not enough light. Cucumbers need at least 6 hours of sun a day to produce flowers and then the fruit. 4) not enough/incorrect ratio of nutrients in the soil. Should have normal nitrogen and high phosphorus and potassium Hope that helps! 🙏 🥒

[@deniace2274]

Thank you for the reply.

[@marcellino1956]

I have more male than female on my vines

[@balconiagarden]

Hi Andy, there are a number of reasons why this happens, could be due to the variety, nutrition, light and watering. It's also normal in the first stages of growth for cucumbers to produce more male flowers so the pollen is there ready for when the female flowers open. You can pinch off the male flowers to encourage more female flowers. Also make sure you're feeding with a good balance of npk, not N heavy as that will focus on vegetative growth. Hope that helps 😊

[@marcellino1956]

@@balconiagarden Got another question...the sparrows have been nibbling on my male flowers they really enjoy eating them will the plant live thru that and should i just let nature take its course??? thanks for the help!