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Nashville, TN

Well, out of 8 Spagetti's pollinated with GP pollen - 4 are maturing well...

Out of 4 Nut Squash pollinated with GP pollen - all four are maturing well..

The one yellow squash pollinated with GP pollen is maturing well - should be of 'eating size' within 3 days..

I've test pollinated 3 more yellow squash and 2 Zuccinni this morning with GP pollen.. will know how successful they are in just 4 days..

Looks like GPs will successfully pollinate almost every Squash I've got on the place at this point... Very educational!!!

7/10/2005 9:47:21 AM

Butler, Ohio

Thats pretty cool teach, I'd be interested to see what some of those seeds wil grow next year out of the squash pollinated x GP pollen.

7/10/2005 2:06:42 PM

Long Island,New York

Please explain to us your treatment of the blossoms (male and female) before and after pollination. Thanks !....G

7/10/2005 3:33:09 PM

Iowa

I didn't think it was possible. . .I have some zukes, I'm gonna try it!

7/11/2005 12:25:23 AM

Nashville, TN

Just like I'm doing when I hand pollinate the GPs...

Night before I select the males and females that will be ready in the morning... I tie both shut with hay rope..

Next morning I pick the tied males off of the 572 Bosworth & 572 Moore (they have TONS of extras!) and carry them to the squash patch... I untie the females, pollinate, then retie them shut... Day or two later I pluck the old flower off of the maturing ovary - and loosely tie the hay rope around the stem off that squash so that I know it's the hybrid. (squash plants produce so MANY - you've got to mark it!!!)

The Spagetti and Nut - have flowers just like GPs.. so it's fairly easy... the Zuccini & Yellow - have stamens that reach almost to the petal tips.. so they're a little more diffictult to tie without damaging..

I will 'test germinate' some of the seeds this year.. will at least get 1-2 months of growth before the freeze. I should be able to see if there are any differences in the plant growth and compare it to the two parents... 'fruit growth & development' observation will probably have to wait until next year...

I'm so used to working, even with the kids, horses, lessons, daycamp... I'm so bored that I like experimenting with the gardens... **grin** thus, the GP projects..

7/11/2005 7:44:19 AM

Indiana

If your worried about damaging the stamens use some old nylons to cover the flowers.

7/11/2005 10:34:37 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

OK just to clear some thing up just because something gets pollinated and sets fruit does not mean you will get viable seeds.

7/11/2005 10:36:26 AM

Nashville, TN

Never said I would... thus, the test germination... There are many degrees of success with hybridization of species.. Just makes it all the more interesting!!

7/11/2005 10:54:36 AM