From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Minnesota([email protected])

Is it O.K. to cover flowers with a plastic baggie, with out holes in it for air? Or is some air needed for the flowers? I tie the baggies with a rubber band.

7/7/2006 3:47:23 PM

Western NY

cut your males the night before and bring them in the house like you would a batch of flowers.

unless you have lots of bees in your house.

7/7/2006 9:09:17 PM

Montoursville, PA

Hey Doug..........tie that baggie up tight the night before. The smallest hole or airway, in the tie up will cause you greif. Been there and done that........only to find the bee found that hole. The one night under plastic will not hurt your female,in any way.

7/7/2006 9:25:15 PM

milford, CT,

I'm trying a new technique for me this year. Ziploc baggy with holes punched with a steak skewer. Then I cut 3/8 inch width of the zip off in the middle. I tried it tonight and it fits nice and snug around the stem. Last year I had stem problems because the stem swelled that night and the twisty cut into the stem. I figure that the plastic will stetch some and I won't damage the stem. I'll post again tomorrow and let you know how well it worked! Mark

7/7/2006 9:49:53 PM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

I haven't used zip lock bags befor this year. I am using plain old no name zip lock sandwich bags, no holes. The flowers I am covering seem to really develope over night. Especially the male flowers. They seem to really bloom over night when covered in this manner. I am assuming that it is eather warmth, overnight caused by a mini green house effect or ethelyne being traped in the bag and advancing the ripeining process. Anyway I have had all pollinations sucessfull so far execpt one, like 19 out od 20. Great results. We have had exceptional conditions this year otherwise, but I definatly think this is a plus. Also I close the female with string after pollination and then re-tent with a zip-loc baggie, not sealed. This also seems to be a plus, however I think if we were having hot weather, I would skip this step
John

7/7/2006 10:29:09 PM

Simi valley, ca

paint strainers work great cost 1 dollar ea - reuseable,& from what iv herd you want to protect from to much moisture so i wouldnt want mine sealed to much, Then styrofom ice chest to prevent any water from getting in if you water that day you can cut atleast one end to go around leaf ,also if hot add ice , but my experance in this 100* pollenation time is dont seal bottom it will be the oppisite & too cold ,, O ya paint strainers just tuck them into soil or add a little dirt on edges

7/8/2006 2:13:02 AM

Bristol, ME ([email protected])

Go and get yourself a couple pair of nylons, cut the feet out and use them to cover your blossoms. Tie with yarn gently around flower to keep it tight, the blossoms can breath and I haven't had a stuborn one yet, you can also use the leg of the nylon for more covers, just tie one end off...

7/8/2006 6:36:11 AM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

Yeah, I get 6-8 from one pair of nylons, course my wife's pretty good siz. . .oops here she comes

7/8/2006 5:13:56 PM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

phew. . .that was close.

I've used baggies too, but watch out if the flower isn't shaded. . .if you think sun may hit for even half hour, better throw a rag over it or you'll steam it

7/8/2006 5:16:25 PM

sevierville, Tn

I use 8 oz styro foam cups for both male and females, easy on & off, fits good, especially the females. Just give a little twist after pollenation to put back on .

7/8/2006 5:48:40 PM

Sparta, NC

I use knee high pantyhose. If its raining I just place a baggie over the pantyhose to protect female from the rain.

7/8/2006 6:42:42 PM

milford, CT,

If interested, here is a picture of the Ziploc Baggie with the middle of the zip cut out and holes punched. It seemed to work well but I agree with the above post that if left on in the sun I don't think it would be a good thing. I covered the female just after the sun went down, and pollinated before 8:00 am. I did notice some condensation but not a lot.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=51854

7/8/2006 10:42:58 PM

Rhode Island

we also from time to time will use foam cups to cover females the night before. works well, ( unless of course its a windy night ) when this happens we go back to the zip lock bag and just leave a small opening at the stem area for fresh air.
the following morning after pollinations we also untie the top of flowers and pull the flower off the blossom to prevent any rotting etc.
pap

7/9/2006 7:39:08 AM

San Jose [email protected]

cheese cloth works really well, doesn't blow off, keeps the flower from opening, until you take off the cloth

7/9/2006 10:52:17 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

All I do it take a small piece of white string tie it once around the males and females. Then I throw a white styro foam cup over them. The white cups makes it easy in the morning to find what is where.

7/9/2006 10:53:20 AM

sevierville, Tn

Opps, make mine 12oz cups not the 8oz i said above. wind would be a problem, so i like "pap's" bag when wind is expected.

7/9/2006 12:05:03 PM

Long Island,New York

Around here we have to use the 32oz "Big Gulp" cups from 7-11.

7/9/2006 2:22:42 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Doesn't make a difference to me...by the time I untie the femal all my males are covered with bees..while I'm shaking them off the female is covered with bees..Yikes! I'm working on it boss!

7/9/2006 9:18:04 PM