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San Diego

I'm getting close to polinating. My plant has male flowers but not a huge amount. Just in case I don't have one open up the same day as my pumpkin flower, can I save one that blooms 1 to 3 days before hand? How is this done? does it work? any help would be appreciated. thanks, Jim

6/18/2002 4:56:04 PM

South Hill, Virginia

Check out this thread http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=16668

6/18/2002 4:59:21 PM

San Diego

Ok, I checked that message board out. After reading it, I had some specific questions for those that do this. If I put a flower in the freezer, is it put in something like a zip lock bad or not? Do you take the pedals off? And when do you take it out prior to polinating, right before it's done in the morning even though it's frozen or the night before to let it defrost? Thanks for the help, Jim

6/18/2002 5:51:26 PM

Indiana

What works for me is to put the pollen in the fridge.
Tom Beachy

6/18/2002 7:04:41 PM

canal winchester ohio

Here is how I pollinate them, it works very well.
Get yourself a few of the zip-loc throw away food tubs ( the small ones). Once you start getting males to bloom take each days crop of fresh blooms & peel off all the petals to expose the pollen. Taking a toothpick "carefully" scrape all the pollen off into one of the tubs. Put all of that days males into the same tub, seal it & date it to know how old it is & place it in the 'fridge. Now if the morning the female opens & you don't have any males open the same day you can get out a tub of your freshest pollen & taking a small artist brush you can dip it into the pollen & then brush it over the newly opened female.
I've done this many times & it works well..........Paul
P.S. make sure to keep males & females covered up BEFOER & AFTER pollination

6/18/2002 7:21:33 PM

Cologne / Germany

Since I have up to 4 male flowers on my plants opening in the morning right now, I changed the method Huff is doing it because females are still very small for me.
After one day in the fridge - provided I have new males the other morning - all former blooms go into the deep freeze. I only peel off the the petals and stay with the rest of the bloom. I was told on a botanic message board over here that pollen is still taking some energy from the base of the bloom.
Well, it´s all about trying out different methods to see what will happen.

6/20/2002 6:13:35 PM