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Location

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Indiana

Just a reminder to all. Since this topic has come up with many people through private conversations, I figured I would tell it to everyone.

All pollinations that are done and recorded should be done with great care. Both the Female, and the MALE(s) need to be covered the night before to make sure pollinations are pure. Through talking to newer growers, it is not common knowledge to them that the males also need to be covered. The worker bees that go and collect pollen also carry pollen on their bodies from flower to flower which contaminates pollinations with any of the females the flowers are used with.

This of course is for the growers that don't know this already, not to lecture or anything, it is just part of the game that not many people talk about.
Tom Beachy

6/18/2002 7:18:17 PM

French River,P.E.Island, Canada

Tom, I pick and cut off my males the night before, take them inside and put them in a labeled glass of water.
They seem to open enough for the pollen to dry the next morning, work's for me .
........Peter

6/18/2002 8:56:44 PM

Deer Park WA

GREAT ADVICE, I TELL ALL THE NEW MALE POLLINATORS I KNOW TO COVER THERE STUFF PRIOR TO FERTILIZING THE FEMALE. YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO GET ANY CONTAMINATION, RIGHT blkcloud?

6/18/2002 10:41:33 PM

syracuse, ny

thank you, tom man, for saying what i could never put into
pleasant-enough words! if i may chime in about this subject--i'm concerned about other insects such as cucumber beetles
contaminating the cross as well as the bees...they are much smaller, are active at night, and they seem to 'know' there's something good under that paper bag...or zip-loc...
or styrofoam cup, etc....so y'all keep an eye out for them as well, and i hope i've been a help to some of you!!!

6/19/2002 3:55:02 PM

Knopp, Germany

Tom, thanks for the explanation. I am trying very hard to get a good polination and will take yor advice. BTW, you were right it wasn't maosiac!!! gott sei dank...owen...FOS

6/19/2002 4:09:20 PM

Indiana

Eric,
What I have found that works best is a 12-14 inch square of very thin fabric. It is almost like an undergarment fabric. Just wrap that around the male with a rubber band. I use a slightly larger piece for the females, and am very careful both puting it on and taking it off. It is kind of time consuming, but for most with a "normal" number of plants, it is very easy.
Tom Beachy

6/20/2002 1:59:18 PM

Utah

a section of panty hose works great also - tie one
end off, put it over the flower- tie the other
end off if needed.

6/20/2002 2:07:24 PM

Chester Co., PA

My sure your wife takes off the panty hose before you try this

6/20/2002 2:10:59 PM

Bridgewater, NJ

if you dont want to use the pantyhose, then go to a shoe store,and they have those one use shoe sampling socks, that are made of the same material, and they fit perfectly..no insects have found a way in yet!

divyan

6/20/2002 2:52:45 PM

syracuse, ny

ohh, i want to use the pantyhose, but i don't have a girlfriend, so no steady supply---

6/20/2002 7:03:12 PM

Cologne / Germany

pantyhose is out off the race for me until I´ll find the biggest one available..tended to block my petals from opening. Switched to good old plastic bags.

6/20/2002 7:27:06 PM

Indiana

Floh,
It doesn't matter if the petals open or not (just if the flower is the right "age"), if the flower would have opened, things are all groovy.
Tom Beachy

6/20/2002 9:46:53 PM