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Burlington, VT

New grower here. I would like to hand pollinate. How do you recognize that the female is ready to open? Have heard a suggestion to cover it with cheese cloth the night before so the bees won't get to it.

7/12/2002 9:33:38 AM

Ga.

The bloom on the female,,as well as the males will get an orangish/yellow tint to it...It looks swelled up/bloated so to speak...Watch your males.,,,that will give you a good idea..I missed my first this year :(...Good Luck!
^_^

7/12/2002 9:51:32 AM

Utah

I got this from another grower a few years back
had to go dig it up -

"It's easy to tell which flowers will open in the
morning. Watch the tips of the flowers. If they come
to a sharp point and look tight, the flower will wait
at least another day to open. When you see the end of
the flower near the point start to bulge slightly, the
flower is about to pop open. Sometimes the tip of the
flower starts to seperate some also.
Every evening check your female flowers and look for a
bulging tip. It's a little subtle but once you've
seen it, it's easy to spot. Works every time."

7/12/2002 10:11:06 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Gordon have to check and see if Sophie is WINKING!

7/12/2002 10:32:46 AM