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Georgia

Does anyone out there leave the tips of the male flowers in the females when their done pollinating. I mean ya know its rude not to spend the night. I wonder if this has any affect at all??

7/6/2007 10:57:55 AM

The Garden State

I just started doing this and so far I am one for one. I just pollinated 3 this morning using the same technique so I will let you know.

7/6/2007 12:07:23 PM

hamilton,Ontario

i do all the time but i make sure its sealed have had no problems

7/6/2007 12:36:56 PM

Georgia

Thanks for the replys. When I pollinated one last week I just decided to leave some male tips in there I didnt really think it could hurt so why not.

7/6/2007 12:40:32 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

I suppose something new should always be tried but I dont think your gaining as much as perhaps you could loose....If you use three good males, find the pollen to be dry, find the pollen to transfer evenly coating the lobes, why leave it in the female and tie it up? I would think it would increase your chance in aborting the effort, not enhance the chance of successful pollination. Keeping the flower cool would be where I would put forth the efforts.....Last year I broke a portion off inside the female and left it as I ran out of time to find the tweezers and remove the debri, pumpkin took for two weeks then aborted......If the pollination is important I would NOT leave it in the flower......

7/6/2007 2:06:30 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

I don't get it. Why would you want to leave them in there?
Don't you want good air circulation? If there is no benefit, then why risk messing up a good thing?

7/6/2007 4:16:02 PM

Carrollton, Ga.

Jason are you able to tie the female bloom closed with them in there?
Doug
Jn.3:16

7/6/2007 4:19:57 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

. . .and, it's not like the pollen is going to swim off of the stamen upstream to the stigma. The pollen is just going to sit there drinking beer and watching ESPN.

7/6/2007 4:20:51 PM

Georgia

Well I just left a couple in one of my females I pollinated. Im probally gonna cull that one anyways its in a bad spot. I just figured it might help leave some extra pollen in there that maybe I missed. Yeah doug I could still tie the tops. I just use a little baling twine to tie them off I had preety big female flowers plenty of room. Hey Doug sorry I can never make the Georgia chat sessions I have Dial-Up at the house. Also Doug give me a e mail sometimes I want to see where you go to get your pumpkins weighed.

7/6/2007 4:40:52 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I've seen someone else say they do this, somewhere on the internet. I wonder if this would help, if you have to pollinated real early in the morning. Maybe when the air temp. heats up later in the morning, some of the pollen would transfer to the female.

7/6/2007 5:57:54 PM

C N Y

oyyyy, this is a good question, but my own personal opinion is, think of all the other things in life you stick into something and you wouldn't leave THEM in there, or THAT in there, lol;
a splinter in your finger,
a Q-tip in your ear,
your keys in your ignition, etc.

the list would go on.
you can toss out the rest of the stamen/stem, and i would
toss out the male stamen tips as a standard.
jusssst mho--eric

7/6/2007 6:22:10 PM

Nashville, TN

In my rear patch, I didn't leave the stamen in after pollination during the early round of pollinations... As of July 1st, I began to leave the stamen in 100% of the time.. Since I pollinate right before sunup - I figured that SOME of the females weren't QUITE ready, but the stamens would stay alive for at least 2 hours and pollen would continue to transfer at contact area...

Waiting to see if I have fewer aborts by leaving them in... Last two seasons I'd leave some in, some out - w/out much observation as to the outcome of either technique...

(and NO - I can't pollinate after 6am - too busy of a life!)

7/7/2007 8:21:08 AM

Cornell, Wi

I know I always like to pull out when I'm done. LOL Pollinating I mean, "sickos"

7/7/2007 11:03:48 AM

Nashville, TN

Do men ever grow up? Or- is this why ya'll need to 'grow 'em big'? Like having a Corvette to make up for something?

7/8/2007 12:31:39 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Gee, Guess were OK LongBeard cuz we always grow small....

:>)

7/9/2007 8:49:32 AM