How to Distinguish Between Male & Female Zucchini Flowers

A summer squash, the zucchini grows well in most summer vegetable gardens. You only need one zucchini plant to produce fruit, as the plants grow separate male and female flowers on the same plant, which are usually pollinated by bees and other insects. You can also pollinate the flowers by hand if you are growing them in a greenhouse or other area where insect pollination isn't possible. Telling the difference between the male and female blooms ensures you pollinate the zucchini correctly for the maximum amount of fruit at harvest time.

Inspect the stems of the flowers. Female flowers have short stems while male flowers have long, thin stems.

Look behind the flower for a swollen base. Flowers with the swollen base are female, as this is the ovary that later develops into the zucchini after germination.

Find the stamen in the center of suspected male blossoms. Male flowers have a single, long stamen that is covered in pollen, while female blossoms have a stigma with multiple stems inside.

To pollinate, clip the male flowers from the vine. Rub the interior of the male blossom against the interior of a female blossom, transferring the pollen.

Squash blossoms are also edible and usually served lightly breaded and fried. Harvest male flowers for eating so you don't inhibit fruiting on the plant.