The Missouri Botanical Garden notes that “the female flower is open for only one day and is most receptive between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. During this time, the flower must receive about ...

They are necessary to pollinate the female flowers. And the large, male flowers of summer squash can be harvested, stuffed with grated cheese, dipped in batter and fried. Yum.

They are easy to tell apart. The male blooms are connected to the main stem of the plant by a simple, short green stem. Female blooms will have a tiny squash connecting them to the main stem.