[Gardeneer]

To hand pollinate a cucurit , I pick a fresh male flower, trying to hold the face up and not shaking. .
Then I bent down/remove the petals. Then bring it to the female flower and give them a gentle kiss. ( ie they kiss each other. I just do the ceremony . ).
I learned to do this years ago when I was growing some Bottle/birdhouse Gourds. Their flower open at the dusk (after sun does dow ) and they close at the dawn. That is the window of time that bees have called it a day and gone to their hives.