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Minnesota([email protected])

I came across this at: http://www.industryinet.com/~ruby/hand_pollination.html

I came across a similar recommendation at another place on the internet, but don't recall where. Is 3-4 days necessary in you opinion, or not?

7/3/2007 12:25:39 AM

Santa Cruz, CA

We tie ours off and just leave the tie on for a week or so until the flower dries up and pulls off easily. I would worry that I might damage the small pumpkin if I were to remove the flower too early. I can't see any reason why you might want to pull it off earlier unless there is a mold issue possibly from the flower getting wet.

7/3/2007 1:38:41 AM

Rhode Island

we had experienced mold around the blossom when leaving the flower to die off on its own.
what we do now which works well is to close the flower tip with a twist tie right after pollination.
that same evening we remove the twist tie and tear off the top half of the flower leaving the segments exposed.
by doing so we do not run the risk of mold ,etc, forming around the segments.

7/3/2007 6:35:45 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Great info pap. Maybe that's why it takes so many attempts for me to get a set. Pollinated five this morning. I'll try your method this evening. Makes sense, too. Bees are gone and all loose pollen has been taken.

7/3/2007 9:38:11 AM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

So Pap, could you clarify this for me? Do you remove all the petals of the flower the evening following pollination?

7/3/2007 2:57:31 PM

Rhode Island

erin
you can remove the entire flower or just take the top half off --- either way the segments can breath.

erin the key is not to let the flower rot and form a seal around the segments

pap

7/3/2007 10:44:12 PM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

IF I were to remember correctly, in Jim Beauchemin's DVD, he takes the blossom off and lets the female "air out" 24 hours after prime pollination time. I should go watch that again before I say so but since there is only a 4-5 hour spot after blossom breach to get a good set in, it makes sense to take off the petals or whatever halts good air flow.

7/4/2007 1:36:24 AM

[email protected]

I don't believe that C. Maxima females remain viable for more than 8-10 hours.

7/4/2007 9:06:06 AM

Ma

Pap will them calling for rain in my area tonight would you still recommend removing the tie tonight?

7/4/2007 10:22:49 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Have to agree Tremor. The females darken very quickly.

7/4/2007 11:28:50 AM

Rhode Island

ive always been taught that pollination takes place immediately afte appling males. however if rain is forcasted why take a chance. wait and take the flower off tomorrow or as soon as it stops raining

7/4/2007 7:04:56 PM