Inspect the flowers on your squash plant.

• 1). There are two ways to identify the male and female flower. First, look at the flowers or buds on the long straight stems. When they are open, you should see one stamen inside, covered with pollen. The long stem and the single, pollen-covered stamen identifies these as the male flowers.
  
  
• 2). Next, look at the flowers or buds closer to the plant, which should be on shorter stems and have a bulge, or squash shaped bulb, at the base of them. These are the female buds and when open them, you will see a multi-stemmed stigma inside.
  
  
• 3). To pollinate, cover the female stigma with pollen from the male flower. You can do this using a fine-bristled paintbrush or cotton bud to collect the pollen and transfer it. Or you can simply pick the male flower and, folding the petals back, rub the pollen directly from the stamen onto the female stigma.