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Nova Scotia

I protected and hand pollenated (like alway's with no problems) but the next morning my flower is still wide open is it pollenated or did I miss? Normaly my females close right back up after I pollenate.

7/13/2007 6:36:44 AM

that's why you cover the female the night b4 and tie her shut after you uncover and pollinate it the next morning,,,if not tied shut it's an open pollination

7/13/2007 7:20:06 AM

Nova Scotia

No I do not tie shut I cover with a large icecream container with it's edges buried so it is not an open pollunation and your comment is not an answer to my question

7/13/2007 7:59:01 AM

South East

u wil know in a bout a day or 5....

7/13/2007 8:42:38 AM

Georgia

I had a similar problem one of my pumpkins on the main vine was open pollinated and the flower kind off got torn open so the lobes are exposed. I wonder if it will pollinate still alright I covered the female with a ball cap not that itll do much good.

7/13/2007 9:44:02 AM

well excuuuuse me,,,

Are your flowers usually shut when you take your ice cream containers off?,,I'm not familar with that method, perhaps your wording had me confused,,,

I would think that having them "containerized" could lead to overheating the attempted set,,,,but there I go thinking again

I guess I agree with frank,,give it a few days and see.

7/13/2007 11:15:46 AM

Nova Scotia

sorry if I offended you unkandan as sometimes the meaning is lost in the writen word with out the proper emphases. Or sometimes in my case spell lol. trust me here though that it never is to hot here in Nova Scotia, especially this year. But when it is hot I put a couple frozen styrofoam cups inside. But the best thing is to wait but like most here I want to know now.

7/13/2007 11:49:45 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

MR. T.,
I agree with the cook, you'll know in a few days. Did the flower petals shrivel up, or stay like they just opened up. If the latter is the case, did you have to pry the petals open before your pollination? If so, you may have pollinated it a day early.

7/13/2007 1:11:53 PM

Nova Scotia

pedals were opened on there own as pic in diary will show but this morning it was even open more 8" across

7/13/2007 1:30:07 PM

Nova Scotia

no shriveling

7/13/2007 1:31:05 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

From what I have read on pollinating the flowers drastically reduce their chances of pollinating after 4 hours, with less than a 50% chance of success. Best pollination times are early AM with in a few hours of opening....So after a day I would think they are pretty mucy finished. Now since you cover I think would keep the humidity level higher so the flower will not dry up, I use stryofoam cups at times, if I leave the cup on the flower for a few days.....it does not shrivel, I now pull the cup off at night and untie like Paps suggested and the flower immediately starts shriveling and drying up. Im thinking there is no reason to capture the young flower in a plastic cage for days as your abort ratio would be higher with potential to mold and mildew. Let them breathe for best success.

7/13/2007 2:52:57 PM

Nova Scotia

Thank you WIZ that answers my post perfectly. and it was foggy and rainy all day and night when I pollenated so hopefully it was the humidity that keep it open.

7/13/2007 2:57:52 PM

St. Thomas Ontario

I think it was a ZizerZazerZuz and he's stuffed all your pollen between his legs...why not, city compost gave you everything else...hehe, sorry couldn't resist;)

7/13/2007 7:07:01 PM

Buffalo, New York

i am new to this.......how will he know in a few days if the pollination worked?

what should he look for?

7/14/2007 8:27:51 AM

Buffalo, New York

i pollinated a few this morning, and after i did, i retied the flower with a twist tie.

why tie it back up after you pollinate?

7/14/2007 8:30:41 AM

[email protected]

Jeremy,

There is some debate as to how long the females remain viable but just dusting your chosen male pollen into the female doesn't flip off the switch. That female is probably primed for 6-8 hours during which time any flying insect that happens to carry pollen in will ruin your cross. NOT tying her back up completely results in an open pollination.

7/14/2007 9:47:38 AM

Simi valley, ca

Im just wondering about the useing a container to cover ? I personaly would rather find something that would let some air circulate ! I use paint strainers -there are 1 gal size & 5 gal size , Eather would work ,But the 1 gal seams perfect to me ! & id not worry if peatels were not closed , but wonder if that could be caused by closed container , O ya & the strainers dont have to be tied & all that crap thats to much messing with pumpkin & chance of hurting it !!! Just push into ground &-or sprinkle some dirt over edges! but watch out for main vine when pushing down, cover for 2 days with styrofome icechest to prevent any water from getting into pollenation, best to cut out 5x5 inchs on ends for airflow ,

7/15/2007 11:53:17 AM