Monoecious: Having both male and female reproductive organs on the same plant.
In the plant world, “monoecious” is a term that describes plants that have both male and female flowers on the same plant. Think of it like a plant that’s both “male” and “female” simultaneously. This means that one plant can produce both pollen (from the male flowers) and ovules (from the female flowers), which are needed for fertilization and the production of seeds or fruit.
Many common garden plants, including cucumbers, squash, corn, and melons, are monoecious. This is important for gardeners to know because it means that you only need one plant to produce fruit (as long as it’s pollinated!). However, sometimes, you might need to help the pollination process along, especially if there aren’t many bees or other pollinators around.
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