Cucurbits include cucumbers, gourds, luffa, melons, squash, pumpkin.
When growing heirlooms in this family, the flowers will need insects to pollinate the flowers.
You will find male and female flowers on the same plant. Female plants are identified by the ovary which is a small fruit at the base of the flower. As seen in picture ~ Futsu Squash, a rare heirloom variety grown from seed.
Although the flowers are insect pollinated, many times growers and seed savers will hand pollinate. This will allow you to grow and save seeds of more than one variety. I haven't tried this method but it is very popular especially when growing prize pumpkins.
