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Pollination When Employing Insect Netting #930763

Asked May 05, 2026, 9:08 PM EDT

Dear Ask Extension, Next week, I will put the following young plants into the ground - eggplant, peppers, and Summer squash. I will cover these plants with insect netting to deter pests. How can I also facilitate pollination? Can it be done manually by me? If so, specifically how should this be done? Alternatively if I rely on Mother Nature, I must remove the cover, which will allow pests to enter and cause insect damage; this I don’t want, but how can it be avoided? Thank you, Best

Frederick County Maryland

Expert Response

Some veggie varieties are self-pollinating and do not require you to remove netting. Look at your specific varieties to see if they are self-pollinating.

Most people remove insect netting when flowers appear and many insects are less active. 

Also, some insects overwinter in the soil, so even if netted, the plants need to be checked for damage.

But if you want to hand pollinate, here are some instructions I got from AI sources. They look correct and logical.

Yes — all three can be hand pollinated, though the method and usefulness differ by crop.

Eggplant 

Eggplant flowers are usually “perfect” flowers (they contain both male and female parts), so they often self-pollinate with wind or insect vibration.
Hand pollination can help if: flowers are dropping, fruit set is poor, temperatures are very hot or cool, pollinators are scarce.
How: Use a small paintbrush, cotton swab, or even an electric toothbrush. Gently touch inside an open flower to move pollen around. Or tap/shake the flower stem lightly around midday.

Best time: Late morning to early afternoon on dry days.

Peppers

Bell pepper and hot peppers also mostly self-pollinate.

Hand pollination method: Lightly shake plants or flower stems. Or use a small brush to transfer pollen between flowers. Helpful during: high humidity, greenhouse growing, very still air, extreme heat (>90°F), which can reduce pollen viability.

You usually do not need to transfer pollen between separate plants unless you want crossbreeding.

Squash

Summer squash and winter squash are different because they produce separate male and female flowers. You often need hand pollination if: bees are scarce, fruits start growing then shrivel, rainy weather limits pollinators.

How:

Identify male flowers: thin stem behind flower, contain pollen-covered stamen.

Identify female flowers: tiny baby squash behind flower. 

Pick a freshly opened male flower in the morning. Remove petals. Rub pollen directly onto the center of the female flower. You can also use a soft brush instead of removing the flower.

Best time: Early morning, when flowers are fully open.

A few extra tips for Maryland-area gardens right now: Avoid overhead watering during flowering. Keep plants evenly watered; stress reduces fruit set. Hot spells above ~90°F can temporarily reduce pollination success in peppers


Good luck

Len


Thank you Len!
-Janice

On May 6, 2026, at 1:03 PM, Extension Foundation wrote:

The Question Asker Replied May 06, 2026, 4:30 PM EDT

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