If your plants are dropping flowers and you’re noticing a decline in fruit setting, the problem could be with lack of pollination.
Maybe the rain is keeping the pollinators at bay, or there just isn’t many pollinators in your area.
But if the pollen is unable to get to the female flower, the flower will dry up and fall off.
Leaving you with a no fruit and an empty harvest basket.
Hand pollinating will increase fruit production, and in turn increase your harvest.
Certain plants, such as cucumbers, squash and pumpkins, need the help of pollinators to move the pollen granules from their male flowers to the stigma of their female flowers.
Without this step, the female flower remains unfertilized and won’t bear fruit.
How to Hand Pollinate:
- Wait until morning when the flowers are freshly open and there is plenty of pollen available.
- Cut one of the male flowers from your plant. (You only need one!)
- Remove the petals from the flower for easier access to the pollen.
- Gently touch the pollen from the male flower onto the stigma of the female flower.
- Continue to distribute the pollen to the other female flowers.
- By the next morning the female flower should be closed and over the next few days you will start to notice the fruit beginning to swell.
- Congratulations! You’ve successfully hand pollinated your plant!
Are you having a problem with fruit setting this year? Let me know how hand pollinating helps you in the comments below.
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Mention @thehomesteadmother or hashtag it #thehomesteadmother
Until next time
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