U.S. Bee Colony Decline Threatens Squash and Zucchini Harvests

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that 1.7 million bee colonies died between summer 2024 and spring 2025, a loss of more than 60 % of commercial hives. The sharp decline in pollinators has reduced pollination rates for cucurbits such as squash, cucumbers, zucchini and pumpkins, leading many gardeners to see healthy vines produce few or misshapen fruits.

Gardeners can mitigate the short‑term impact by hand‑pollinating flowers each morning, a technique that mimics bee activity and can improve fruit set dramatically. Long‑term strategies include planting pollinator‑friendly habitats and, for cucurbits, using vertical trellising. Training zucchini and other vining varieties on sturdy stakes improves airflow, lowers humidity and reduces powdery mildew, resulting in cleaner fruit and higher yields.

Both the pollinator crisis and the recommended cultivation practices underscore the interconnectedness of agricultural health, climate‑related stressors, and garden‑scale interventions.