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Santa Cruz, CA

In the morning I will need to transport a few male flowers to our patch across town to pollinate. I have picked the males that I think will open tonight but I noticed yesterday when I picked some males that they didn't seem to open well at room temperature in a glass with water. Is that normal? Do flowers not open well once picked? If the flower doesn't open is it ok strip the flower off and to use the pollen inside? Should I only choose flowers that open over night? Any tricks in getting the flowers to open more quickly? heat? cold? Thanks for the help as per usual. Help sure makes pumpkin growing more fun!!!

7/2/2007 11:54:28 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

I cut flowers the night before as well. To get to the pollen of the ones which don't open, use a sharp knife and carefully cut around the base of the flower to remove the petals. You are then left with your pollen-laden centr. Makes it much easier to pollinate.

7/3/2007 6:23:35 AM

Santa Cruz, CA

Thanks gp dude! Just courious but do you know why the males don't open when cut the night before? The whole batch I picked last night are not open this morning and we're off to pollinate in a half hour.

7/3/2007 9:28:17 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

It just takes longer for them to open when they're inside. If you set them outside in the morning, they will all open eventually.

7/3/2007 9:40:46 AM

Santa Cruz, CA

Very interesting....Thanks for the help.

7/3/2007 9:52:35 AM

canal winchester ohio

Put'em under a lamp in the morning. I had some males brought to me last Thursday morning & I put'em in the fridge that night in a glass of water. Saturday morning they were taken out at 6 am & put under a table lamp, by 8:30 they were wide open & ready for pollination.
The female is pollinated & all is fine.

7/3/2007 10:45:23 AM

canal winchester ohio

The males were brought to me Thursday EVENING, not morning......my bad.

7/3/2007 10:46:27 AM

Santa Cruz, CA

Ok so the sun has something to do with the flowers opening. I'll do that next time. Thanks for the help.-creek and son

7/3/2007 2:05:44 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

When it's cool outside the morning of pollination, I've put a vase of male flowers (that I cut the night before) in the cupholder of my car. In that greenhouse environment they open up faster than they would in the house, um. . . I mean the castle. . .

7/3/2007 3:03:26 PM