Cucumber Pollination and Harvesting Tips

The same cucumber vine has both male and female flowers. The male flowers, also called the staminate flowers, develop first. These will quickly grow and drop without bearing fruit. The next flowers that grow will be a combination of both male and female (pistillate) flowers. This is when pollination takes place. Take into account that some cucumbers available today require special pollination and planting. Read the package instructions carefully to make sure that your cucumber flowers will pollinate correctly.

Remember that you’ll need to stimulate the presence of bees in your garden to properly pollinate your vines. Using chemical pesticides can kill off the bees and prevent proper pollination. Consider a natural form of pest control instead.

Cucumbers are generally ready to harvest after about 60 days after planting. When to harvest also depends on the variety of cucumber that your grow. Read your seed package instructions carefully for specific harvesting times.

The larger cucumbers grow, the more likely they are to loose their flavor or even become bitter. If your cucumbers begin to turn yellow, they are probably past due to harvest.

When you harvest, carefully inspect your plants (without stepping on the vines) and cut the stem about 3/8 of an inch above the cucumber itself. Once the cucumbers start appearing, harvest frequently to maximize the quality of the fruits.