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Minnesota([email protected])

Looks like I'll be starting my controlled pollinations on Friday. I'd like to hear opinions on when is the best time to do them. 5..6..7..8 AM? I don't want to get out too early, before the male and females are fully ready. I don't want to get out too late either, as the bees may be in full activity. I live in central MN, so maybe someone in a similar latitude would be best to answer this.

6/27/2007 1:50:40 PM

Wi

I think it's best to pick the male flowers the evening before. That way you KNOW no bugs will get in them in the morning. I just put a zip loc bag over the female. Make sure the males you pick are flowers that would have opened the next morning.

I don't hardly think you can pollinate too early. I've peeled the female open before it opens on it's own in the AM and still got a set.

6/27/2007 2:06:45 PM

Cottage Grove, MN

Wake them gently, maybe stroke a few leaves first. Softly say sweet nothings to them, make them comfortable and at ease. Tell them how big their leaves are, and how soft the petals of the blossoms look. Then do the deed! Seriously Doug, you know way more than I do, looking forward to responses as I'd like to learn too. Also, you may not want to mention multiple males, it usually doesn't go over that well in my experience.

6/27/2007 2:14:16 PM

Rhode Island

we bag the female the night before she opens. usually you can tell because the night before shes opening the flower will be swelled up and a bit of the inside of the flower tip will be showing.
however you chose to pollinate just be sure if its real early that you make sure the male pollon is dry.if we have to pollionate early say 730 a.m. we take the males in the house for a half hr ( so all the granules dry out)

6/27/2007 3:18:26 PM

Minnesota

Doug i do the pollinating a 945am - it seems for our area this is the best time. It seems to me that the pollen is at its peak by then. I check the patch at night and the females and males that are going to open the next morning are nice and yellow so they really stick out. Then i put a small 1" rubber band on the male and female. When done pollinating i put the rubberband on the female and walk away. They flower and rubberband will fall of on their own when it is time for them to go.

I did a ton of test many years ago and the best seeds and the best seed count came from the 945am time so that is what i mean by the pollen must be at its peak. I think there might be alot of pollen that dont come off the stigma if it isnt quit ready leaving you with a lower seed count. IMO.

Good Luck

6/28/2007 12:05:51 AM

Minnesota

Oh and i never cut the flowers the night before. I leave them on the plant until i am ready to pollinate. Not that it makes it any better but it is easier for me to go and cut the male and then go to the plant that needs pollinating.

6/28/2007 12:08:16 AM

[email protected]

I wish the males were ready as early as the females but they usually aren't. The pollen doesn't seem to "rise(?)" until the temperatures warm up in the later part of morning like Dean has noted. As Dick suggests you also don't want moisture in the mix either.

I've had good results by harvesting males the night before, setting the alarm clock for 3AM & warming them on the oven door with the heat set at the lowest setting. This way they're ready by 5:30 so I can do the deed & still beat the morning rush.

6/28/2007 12:36:41 AM

Nashville, TN

Because of time restraints - I pollinate right before sunup... Granted it's been in the Muggy upper 70's - by 5am!

So far it APPEARS that most have taken the pollinations this year. I noticed last season, that if I left the 'naked males' inside of the female after pollination - and then tied the petals closed, I seemed to have a better rate of the pollination 'taking'...

Now, the smaller kins/hubbards I've been crossing with - are
Closed at 4:30am (when I first get out, to feed the livestock) and wide open by 5am (when I'm starting to pollinate)

This year, I've been 'beating the bees' every morning!

6/28/2007 7:03:47 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

Thanks for all the replies.
Dean, that's great info. last year I was getting out about 6 AM. It will be nice to be able to sleep later. By the way, are pollinating insects and bees more of a problem after 9 AM in the morning?

6/28/2007 8:27:23 PM

Key West, FL

Bring males inside the night before, 5am put them under a warm light, 6 am pollinate using a little "forced entry" on the female. That is what I've done so far this year. We'll see how it goes.

6/29/2007 10:45:37 AM

Cornell, Wi

Geez Tremor now thats dedication

7/1/2007 3:51:51 PM