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New Brunswick, Canada

Just wondering what I should do re: pollination. I have seeds from two different giant pumpkins and wonder if I will have better luck crossing them or if I should just let them self-pollinate?

4/17/2011 7:08:47 PM

Kentucky, U.S.A.

Learning to polinate and keepping it pure is the hardest part of growing a true Giant. As a fellow newbie you really would just like to get a Big one, but to grow a huge one(that's competitive) and not be able to say you know exactly what it's linage is, as well as the seeds, well it would still be very cool!!!! We'll get our feet under us eventually! Let's just get a big one in the patch first! BSD, David

4/17/2011 10:20:52 PM

Rhode Island

always hand pollinate. if you get something special and its from a open pollinated pumpkin? most growers would not want the seed because of what BSD mentioned above.
its all good though. you grow the way you want to. some have no interest in the competition aspect of the hobby. they just want to grow and put them on the porch or give to friends.
different strokes for different folks.
eventually though? if you stay around the hobby long enough? you will be doing a lot of thinks that right now seem silly or unimportant/
pap

4/18/2011 7:47:38 AM

Western PA

ITG, no matter how you pollinate this year it will not effect how your pumpkin will grow this year. It will only change the seeds in this years pumpkin. Maybe you new that all ready?

4/18/2011 9:31:16 AM

New Brunswick, Canada

ZAPPA - no I didn't understand that. I thought that crossing them would have an effect on this year's pumpkin. That's good to know. But now that I think about it, that makes sense. Thanks.

4/18/2011 10:07:49 AM

Ashby, MA

This is my second year at this and last year being the first time I ever pollinated there were a few things I learned but overall I was successful. I plan on trying a few different things this year to make it easier. Last year I put small styrofoam coffee cups over the flowers the night before they were going to bloom (you can tell because the flowers would start to swell). You have to put them over the female flow and any male flowers that will be blooming. When I woke up in the morning and went out to pollinate the cups had fallen off the male flowers and the bumble bees stole all of the pollen. The next time around I attached the coffee cups to bamboo sticks using an elastic band. This worked and I was able to hand pollinate with success. This year I think I'm going to use a plastic ziploc bag. I also want to tie up the female flower after pollinating. So much to learn in this new hobby of mine but that's what makes it fun. My guess is that we all love the shear challenge of it.

4/18/2011 1:29:48 PM

East Jordan, MI

gpierce,

cut the males off the night before and put them in a vase in your house (keep them seperate and labled if you cut males from more than one plant). They will be protected from the bees, will make your house smell good when they will open in the morning.

4/18/2011 9:17:20 PM

Kentucky, U.S.A.

Just have to look out for those sneeky petes that hide behind some leaves! He'll sneek out early and dare those bees to take a wiff of his sweetness!
I do like that idea, as Pap says, cut'm all they'll steal too much good stuff anyway! Then you got what you need and removed the rest! Simple, that's my speed! BSD, David

4/18/2011 11:22:05 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

I also do the cntryboy thing, and harvest males flowers the night b/4 the deed!!! Those pre-harvested males will bloom quickly in a little sunlight (se window)!!! W/a little practice, you will be able to pick the males that will open the next a.m.!! Also, the female to be pollinated the next a.m., has to be VERY securely covered!!! No styro cups!! Peace, Wayne

4/19/2011 2:40:38 AM

Western PA

gpierce, bread bag twist ties work great for keeping the females tied shut. After you pollinate, tie her back up.The flower ,that is, HA !
Best of luck this season.

4/19/2011 8:22:42 AM

Western PA

One more thing, be sure when you untie the flower in the am, that their is not a bee inside. Their is a certain kind of bee that will enter the flower the night before and wait until the next morning for the pollen to dry.I don't know how they sneak in but they can.If you choose a male flower that is the tiniest bit opened on the tip, you might have one inside.

4/19/2011 8:29:36 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Zappa, that sounds like the early Bee (closely related to the early bird, that get's the worm) story !!! LOL Never seen it, but will be lookin!!! I use a short (8/10 inches) piece of knitting yarn to tie my flowers w/. A little softer than a bread tie, and easier for my fumble fingers!!!Peace, Wayne

4/19/2011 10:46:04 PM

milford, CT,

I cover male and female flowers with a 2 oz dixie cup..When the flower is opening the next morning the petals make a tight seal and I have never seen any insects get in. I feel the advantage to this is that the stamen are loaded with pollen vs cutting them the night before. Hope this helps? Mark

4/21/2011 8:32:47 PM