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These cucumber terms are sometimes grouped together, but they do not describe exactly the same thing. Monoecious and gynoecious describe the types of flowers produced by the plant. Parthenocarpic describes the ability of a plant to develop fruit without pollination and fertilization.
Monoecious: separate male and female flowers occur on the same plant.
Gynoecious: the plant produces predominantly female flowers.
Parthenocarpic: fruit can develop without pollination and fertilization. Because these terms describe different characteristics, a cucumber can be both gynoecious and parthenocarpic.
Monoecious cucumbers produce separate male and female flowers on the same plant. This is a common flowering habit among traditional cucumber varieties.
Male flowers usually begin appearing before female flowers. Their role is to produce pollen. Female flowers contain an ovary that can develop into a cucumber after successful pollination and fertilization.
For a monoecious cucumber that is not parthenocarpic, pollen must be transferred from a male flower to a female flower for normal fruit and seed development. Outdoors, bees and other insect pollinators perform most of this work.
The easiest way to identify the flower is to look directly behind it. The difference is usually easy to see once you know what to look for.
A male flower is attached to the plant by a relatively slender flower stalk. There is no miniature cucumber behind the flower. Male flowers produce the pollen needed by non-parthenocarpic female flowers.
A female flower has a small immature cucumber, the ovary, directly behind the flower. In cucumbers that require pollination, this ovary develops normally after pollen is successfully transferred to the female flower and fertilization occurs.
Gynoecious cucumbers are bred to produce predominantly female flowers. Since female flowers have the potential to develop into cucumbers, gynoecious varieties can offer early fruit production and high yield potential.
However, gynoecious does not mean pollination is unnecessary. If a gynoecious variety is not also parthenocarpic, its female flowers still require pollen for normal fruit development. A pollen-producing cucumber must therefore be present nearby.
A gynoecious cucumber can also be parthenocarpic. In that case, the plant produces predominantly female flowers and those flowers can develop fruit without pollination.
A non-parthenocarpic gynoecious cucumber needs a source of pollen. For this reason, seed companies may include seed from a monoecious pollenizer variety in the seed lot or packet. The pollenizer plants produce male flowers that provide pollen for the gynoecious plants.
Pollenizer seed may look different from the primary variety because it can be dyed for identification. If pollenizer seed is supplied with a gynoecious variety, plant it according to the directions provided rather than removing or discarding it.
Parthenocarpic cucumbers can develop fruit without pollination or fertilization. Because fertilization is not required for fruit development, these cucumbers are normally seedless or nearly seedless when they remain unpollinated.
Parthenocarpy is especially valuable in greenhouses and high tunnels where pollinating insects may be limited or intentionally excluded. Many cucumbers developed specifically for protected culture use parthenocarpic genetics.
Pollination is unnecessary for parthenocarpic fruit production and can be undesirable for some cultivars. If pollination occurs, some parthenocarpic cucumbers can develop seeds or produce misshapen fruit. Follow the recommendations for the specific variety being grown.
Seeing flowers without cucumbers does not automatically indicate a problem. On typical monoecious cucumber plants, the first flowers to appear are usually male. Male flowers supply pollen but cannot develop into fruit. Female flowers generally begin appearing afterward.
Once female flowers are present, non-parthenocarpic cucumbers need adequate pollination for normal fruit development. Poor pollination can contribute to poor fruit set or irregular fruit development. Cold, rainy, or cloudy weather can reduce pollinator activity, and unfavorable environmental conditions can also contribute to flower or young fruit abortion.
Remember: Parthenocarpic cucumbers are different. Their female flowers can develop fruit without pollination, so the absence of bees does not prevent fruit set in the same way it can with non-parthenocarpic varieties.
The small cucumber visible behind a female flower is the ovary, so its presence does not necessarily mean that successful pollination and continued fruit development have already occurred.
In cucumbers that require pollination, inadequate pollination can contribute to poor fruit development or abortion. Environmental stresses can also interfere with fruit set. University Extension guidance identifies factors such as excessive heat, water stress, low light, and unfavorable weather during flowering as possible contributors to flower or young fruit abortion. Parthenocarpic varieties remove the requirement for pollination, but they can still experience fruit abortion from environmental or plant stress.
Describes: Flowering habit
Flowers: Male and female flowers on the same plant
Pollination: Required for fruit development unless the variety also has parthenocarpic ability
Describes: Flowering habit
Flowers: Predominantly female
Pollination: Required unless the cultivar is also parthenocarpic
Describes: Fruit-setting ability
Fruit set: Can occur without pollination
Seeds: Fruit are typically seedless or nearly seedless when unpollinated
There is no single flowering type that is best for every grower. Variety selection should consider the production environment, pollination requirements, fruit type, intended use, and characteristics of the individual cultivar.
| Growing Situation | Types to Consider | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Open Field | Monoecious, gynoecious, or suitable parthenocarpic cultivars | Know the pollination requirements of the specific variety. Non-parthenocarpic types require adequate pollen and pollinator activity. |
| Commercial Pickling | Many varieties are gynoecious | High female flower production can contribute to early and concentrated fruit production. A pollenizer is needed when the cultivar is not parthenocarpic. |
| Greenhouse or High Tunnel | Parthenocarpic cultivars are commonly used | Fruit can develop without pollinating insects. Many protected-culture cultivars are also gynoecious. Unwanted pollination can affect fruit quality in some parthenocarpic cultivars. |
| Backyard Garden | Monoecious, gynoecious, or parthenocarpic | All can be appropriate for home gardens. Choose the variety you want and understand whether it requires pollination or a pollenizer. |
Flowering habit is only one part of choosing a cucumber. Growers should also consider fruit type, maturity, disease resistance, plant habit, production environment, and intended market or use.
Monoecious and gynoecious tell you what flowers the plant produces. Parthenocarpic tells you whether fruit can develop without pollination. A gynoecious cucumber may still need a pollenizer unless it is also parthenocarpic. Once those differences are understood, cucumber variety descriptions and pollination requirements become much easier to interpret.
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