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Minnesota([email protected])

I went out this evening around 7-7:30 PM, to cover flowers on my plants, so I can make controlled pollinations in the morning. One one of my plants(that I want to self), I noticed that the petals were seperating some on the female already(that's due to open tomorrow), enough so that a cuke beetle(or something else) could get in. The male flowers on this plant(that will open in the morning) were the same way. I covered the flowers. I'm wondering If I make this pollination, if I can classify it as a good one, or not? Do I need to worry about a bug with some of today's pollen having gotten in there?

7/1/2007 10:42:07 PM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

You could think of the pollination in the same way as fruit are classified at a weighoff. The slightest opening, pinhole, crack, etc. and it is no longer solid. If the flower spent any time at all out of your sight with an open bullseye for "who's the daddy" that would earn "x open" I believe. Doug, send us the raingods down here!

7/1/2007 11:16:38 PM

Rhode Island

bees ,etc are not usually active at night. if you have the female bagged and the males bagged i dont thing its a big deal. males and females tend to seperate just a bit at the tip the evening before they will open for pollination
if on the other hand you could stick your finger inside the tip them thats a different story.

7/2/2007 6:12:13 AM