Pumpkin Flowers

and Pollination

Keene State Dietetic Interns

Kristina & Devin

So far youve learned...

Parts of a seed
Seed travel
Germination conditions
Sprouting
Parts of a vine
Conditions that upset vine health

1. Intro

By the end of today, youll be

able to...

Differentiate between the structure and function of

A and B flower parts
Describe how pollination occurs

Side view

Can you spot the

differences?

1.

http://www.leafrootfruit.com.au/ho
w-to-grow/giant-pumpkin/

2. Inner view

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/englis
h/crops/facts/00-031.htm

A and B Flowers
Did you know
A flowers grow far from the vine
while B flowers grow close to the
vine
A flowers bloom 1-2 weeks before
B flowers
B flowers have to be pollinated for
the pumpkin to develop

Left is A flower, right is B flower

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-thehome-gardener/advice-tips-resources/visual-guides/pollination-of-squash-and-pumpki
ns.aspx

A flowers
Stamen- this makes pollen!
What is pollen? A yellow powder that
is used to fertilize the B flower.

Stamen

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-t
he-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/visual-guides/pollination-of-squash-andpumpkins.aspx

Ovules: tiny egg cells

Stigma: The sticky part of the

top of the pistil that is where the
pollen lands

Pistil: part that accepts the

pollen so that the eggs can
become fertilized

B Flowers

Ovary: the part that grows into

the pumpkin fruit

Stigma
Pistil
Ovules
Ovary

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/00-031.htm

1. Label the
flowers
2. Match the part
to the function

Activity
Time!

Lets Label Together!

Lets Match the

Part to its
Function!

A flowers have pollen, and B do not

Once a B flower opens, it is mature

and ready to be pollinated

A flowers last one day before they fall

off the vine

Pollination

B flowers need pollen transferred from

the A flower in order for a pumpkin to
grow

http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/wp-co
ntent/uploads/2014/07/Squash1.jpg

This takes about 15 bee visits!

Pollination occurs when all parts of the stigma are covered in pollen

Then when they visit the B flower, pollen falls onto the stigma

When they visit the A flower, pollen sticks to their feet

Pollen attracts bees

Although cucumber beetles can pollinate pumpkin flowers

(remember them?), its mostly bees!
Honey bees, bumble bees, and squash bees

Bees and Insects

http://news.cornell.edu/sites/chronicle.cornell/fil
es/Bombusbee_1.jpg

Humans can then pollinate

pumpkin plants

Done when bees or pollinating

insects do not visit the flowers
Why? Often, pesticides

Hand Pollination

One can remove the flower A

pollen and brush it onto the flower
B stigma

http://d1yfb83pmjnfe2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0
076-458x326.jpg

The ovary grows into the pumpkin

This is called the fruit set.

Once the B flower is pollinated, the

flower falls off and the ovary begins to
grow.

What happens next?

Two pumpkins per vine are expected for

large varieties, while smaller types can
grow up to 15 per vine!

http://lichenwood.typepad.com/lichenwood_rambles/2007/08/pumpkins.html

What happens next?

What just happened?

What kind of pollination would this be?

Watch as we simulate a pumpkin

flower pollination!

Activity 2

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Feature
s/Bees/Images/bee_pollen_macro.jpg

Pollination

Timeline Overview
Flowers bloom

http://scms.machteamsoft.ro/uploads/
photos/original/104622-3.jpg

Flower B is
pollinated

https://simplygratefulhousewife.files.wor
dpress.com/2015/07/dscf0067.jpg

Fruit set

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3346/3644453651_e
caf734303.jpg

Next,
Youll learn about...

Call to Action

Today, share one thing with someone

at home that you learned about
pumpkin flowers and pollination.

QUESTIONS?

Thank You

Resources
http://pumpkinnook.com/howto/pollen.htm
https://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-pumpkins/
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/pumpkins-flower-5851
5.html
http://extension.psu.edu/plants/sustainable/documen
ts/Pumpkin%20Pollinators.pdf
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetable
s/pumpkin/hand-pollinate-pumpkins.htm