Hand Pollination of Pumpkins (step by step guide and tips)

Want pure seeds? We take you through the steps to hand-pollinate pumpkins and squash. Learn all the important indicators for a good seed set and how to ensure genetic diversity of your seed crop.
We guide you through the process of differentiating between male and female plants and demonstrate the manual pollination technique. This ensures that your plants are effectively pollinated, maximizing their fruit production.
Male flowers, identified by their yellow color, are paired with female flowers, recognizable by the presence of pumpkins. Two male flowers from different plants are strategically chosen to prevent inbreeding. Timing is crucial, with an emphasis on choosing male flowers poised to open the next morning. Female flowers, displaying vibrant colors, are selected for their upcoming blooming period.
Hand Pollination Technique:
Male flowers undergo a meticulous process of petal removal to expose pollen.
The golden pollen is carefully transferred to the stigma of the female flower.
Each lobe of the stigma, corresponding to a seed in the pumpkin fruit, must be thoroughly covered for successful pollination and seed development.
Protection and Marking:
After pollination, female flowers are shielded with organza bags to prevent cross-pollination by bees. A cable tie is used to mark hand-pollinated plants, serving as a visual indicator.
The video provides an overarching view of how the entire pumpkin field is exclusively hand-pollinated by the dedicated staff. Livingseeds reflects a commitment to hand pollination, ensuring seed purity and effective plant management.
⏱️KEY MOMENTS
00:00 Introduction
00:23 Hand pollination process
00:50 Selecting male flowers
01:30 Identifying flowers for hand pollination
01:46 Hand pollination process explained
03:37 Protecting the female flower
03:55 Importance of hand pollination timing
09:09 Hand Pollination Process
09:33 Identification of Pure Seed
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Livingseeds.co.za provides quality heirloom and open-pollinated seed to private gardeners and small-scale market gardeners in South Africa - seed that can be harvested and kept from year to year without the need to buy specialist seed from large corporations every season. We would like to see people become more self-sufficient and take back the ability to produce their own food!

[@ruthlongridge2137]

This is truly awesome. Thanks so much for educating me.

[@LivingseedsFarm]

Only a pleasure.

[@matomeboshego63]

Love your videos. Thank you

[@LivingseedsFarm]

Thank you. Really value your comment.

[@SharingInsights]

Really love these videos! Love learning from Sean and how keen he is to share his amazing knowledge and wisdom!
The videos are of a really high quality. The background music is just a little distracting? It's slightly louder than Sean's voice so I have to strain yo hear him.

[@LivingseedsFarm]

Awesome, thank you!
Will look at the background music levels.

[@simonysinclair7163]

Blimey that is labour intensive 😳 very interesting. Thank you for sharing. My appreciation for these seeds has increased 10fold! 🌺

[@LivingseedsFarm]

Yup. There is no short cut to doing this right.

[@SimpleEarthSelfReliance]

Very useful info, well time, too. Live the videos and the thumbnail had me cracking up. 😅

[@LivingseedsFarm]

Thank you.
Yeah, sex always gets attention. 😂😂😂

[@vivianleroux5965]

Great, thank you Sean. Please will you show us how to hand pollinate tomatoes?

[@LivingseedsFarm]

Plans can be made.

[@user-bb1wy6io3z]

❤

[@LivingseedsFarm]

Thanks ;)

[@heinovanrooyen48]

Thank you for this info. I have 4 cucumber plants ashley cucumbers and for some reason I have no male flowers. Is that normal?

[@LivingseedsFarm]

If it’s just started flowering then the males will come. It’s a common issue.

[@heinovanrooyen48]

@@LivingseedsFarm thank you

[@lilyselveywillars]

What pegs do you use? Are they a special type?🤔

[@LivingseedsFarm]

Standard wooden cloths peg.

[@lsonja1]

When do you take the organza bag off?

[@LivingseedsFarm]

The next morning, it takes a single day to set seed.