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Springfield, OR

I have a female blossom on my 1104 Hester that will open in a couple of days. I have three nice males open this morning on the plant I plan to use as a pollen source. Is there any way to save or "preserve" them so I'll be sure to have pollen available when the female actually opens? I would appreciate any advice. Thanks, Jim

6/27/2005 11:10:59 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Well, I would say you could snip off the males and keep in moist paper towels in the fridge to use a day later. Longer than that, I think you would have to remove the pollen with a brush and store the pollen in the fridge or freezer. I used little vitamin bottles last year to store the pollen. I had lower than average successful pollination, though, compared to fresh pollen. So hopefully you will have new males ready in three days...

6/27/2005 11:16:53 AM

Topsfield, Ma.

I have stored male flowers in a glass of water in the fridg for 3 days and used them for pollination. At day 3 and beyond the pollen appears to get clumpy. Don't know how viable it is at that point...but it's better than nuttin'
Best of luck, Duff.

6/27/2005 8:54:33 PM

C N Y

if there is any possibility of using fresh pollen,
like from at least one male that will be opening
on the same day as the 1104 female, try and go with that.
i usually cut-off three males per female, put them into cups of water, label them, cover them with a clear plastic
container to avoid ANYYYYYY chance of contamination, and in the morning i am greeted with three beautiful blossoms all ready to do their business. be sure to tie-off, zip-tie-shut, or even wrap a piece of hookup or "craft" wire around the female flower for the night, to avoid the bees and cuke
beetles and whatever contaminating your cross.....eric

6/29/2005 5:18:30 PM

C N Y

PS! the above-mentioned is all done with males and female
the night before they are actually going to open.
and, after pollination, tie off the female like before until the flower is starting to deteriorate, and the pollination has apparently "taken".

6/29/2005 5:32:34 PM