Boy squash:
Girl squash:
There are more complicated ways to tell the difference, but on the vine, it’s easiest to remember that no matter how small the blossom, a female squash blossom always has a micro-version of the eventual squash. (This is a butternut – you can tell from the shape.) No baby squash = male blossom. The males generally bloom first.
Leasmom said,
September 18, 2008 at 9:35 am
oh my god. I didn’t know there was a sex to squash. Now I’ve got to run out and look at my winter squash that’s creeping out in all directions.
Liss said,
September 18, 2008 at 10:24 am
Squash blossoms are awesome. Here’s why:
http://www.recipezaar.com/236801
I will note, goat cheese or sheep’s milk cheese is even tastier. I’m not sure the beer is strictly necessary. A light drizzle of honey over these when they’re done and OH MY GODS.
Leasmom said,
September 18, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I have the female ends that haven’t grown into baby squashes like yours yet, but I guess that’s just a matter of time. Thanks for the info!!!
Buttercup said,
October 2, 2008 at 11:46 am
Of course, you want to leave the female blossoms alone so they can grow into squash, and pick the male blossoms to eat – but better leave a few!
As Emily says, early in the season it seems most of the blossoms are male, so that’s a good time to eat them.
Hoot Owl Holler Farm makes their tasty produce and herbs look beautiful enough to…eat and photograph. said,
July 10, 2010 at 1:58 pm
[...] a few you may find appealing — and be sure to use your squash blossoms the day you pick them [male blossoms only] or buy them from a [...]
Squash Blossoms « Gardora.net said,
June 14, 2011 at 11:33 am
[...] Squash BlossomsDo you know how to differentiate male and female squash blossoms? Two pictures: http://j.mp/ikbK4y [...]
Anonymous said,
June 20, 2012 at 10:09 am
Thanks for the beautiful information about male and female. your site is knowledgeable and keep going. I exact do all as what you do. Banking,growing,canning etc.
BarbS said,
July 7, 2012 at 4:42 am
WHODATHUNK??? Now, is there a way to tell whether the female blossom has been fertilized (except by waiting a month for the squash to grow)??
Anonymous said,
July 7, 2012 at 3:39 pm
If its not pollinated, it will shrivel and fall off in a week or so.
livingthroughthesenses said,
September 18, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Thank you! I knew I was letting our pumpkin blossoms go to waste but was afraid of picking the wrong ones . . . since reading this I’ve been getting great batches of blossoms from our garden and have been making stuffed squash blossoms all summer! (recipe is on my blog if you’re interested
)
Stuffed Squash Blossoms . . . baked, not fried! « Living Through the Senses said,
September 18, 2012 at 1:29 pm
[...] Male and female squash blossom pictures. [...]