Do Boston Pickling Cucumbers self pollinate?

Yes, Boston Pickling cucumbers are self-pollinating, but there's a bit more nuance to understand:

Here's how it works:

• Cucumbers are monoecious, meaning a single plant produces both male and female flowers.

• Pollination still needs to occur — typically via bees or other pollinators moving pollen from male flowers to female flowers (even on the same plant).

• So while the plant can pollinate itself, it still requires a mechanism for pollen transfer — this isn’t automatic like in true self-fertile plants such as tomatoes or beans.

Summary:

• ✅ Yes, they produce both male and female flowers.

• ✅ Yes, they can be pollinated by their own pollen.

• ❌ No, they don't self-pollinate without help (need bees, wind, or hand pollination).

If you're growing them in a greenhouse or low-pollinator environment, you may want to hand-pollinate using a small brush or by rubbing male flowers onto female flowers to ensure good fruit set.

Great — you’re close to being able to hand-pollinate your Boston Pickling cucumbers! Here’s a simple guide to help you identify the flowers and do it correctly:

🥒 Step 1: Identify the Flowers

• Male Flower:

  • Usually lighter yellow.

  • Grows on a thin stem (no baby cucumber behind it).

  • Inside, it has a single central stamen with pollen.

• Female Flower:

  • Often darker yellow.

  • Grows with a tiny cucumber-shaped ovary directly behind the petals (this becomes the cucumber).

  • Inside, it has a central pistil — looks like a sticky knob, often with 3 lobes.

You described one light yellow and one dark yellow flower — sounds like the light one is male, and the dark one is female. Perfect pair!

🖌️ Step 2: Pollinate by Hand

Option A: Using a brush or Q-tip

1. Gently rub a small brush or Q-tip inside the male flower to collect yellow pollen.

2. Dab that onto the center of the female flower — make sure the pollen touches the sticky pistil.

Option B: Using the whole male flower

1. Pluck the male flower off the plant.

2. Peel back its petals to expose the stamen.

3. Gently rub the stamen directly inside the female flower’s center.

✅ Signs it worked:

• The tiny cucumber behind the female flower will start to grow bigger within a day or two.

• If pollination fails, it will turn yellow and shrivel instead.