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Buffalo, New York

this is my first year growing A.G. Pumpkins.

My main vine on my plant is roughly 20 feet long and my secondarys are 10' so i cut the secondaries and buried them to stop growing.

I have 4 females that i want to pollinate tomorrow (saturday july14th) morning. 1 is on the main vine and 3 are on seperate secondary vinnes.

What and how do i do the night before and what and how do i do early that morning and after?

thanks.

jr

7/13/2007 6:18:25 PM

San Jose [email protected]

1. go cut a bunch of males that are due to open tomorrow, put in vase and refrigerate

2. get something to tie the females closed, string,yard, twist ties, tie them shut, near the end of the flower

3. in the am, when u get up take males out of fridge to warm a bit, an hour should be fine.

4. when males are warm take a couple of them, carefully take off the flower, leaving just the pollen thingy, staymen?

5. go to first female open her up, rub the males all over the lobes of female, GENTLY

6. close up with twist tie.

7. repeat 4 thru 6 for the rest of females

7/13/2007 6:42:25 PM

Buffalo, New York

after i pollinate her and close her up, how long do i leave her closed for?

thanks for info

7/13/2007 7:22:44 PM

Ohio

Couple days is fine

7/13/2007 8:51:00 PM

Minnesota

Let nature take it's course...
Bees are awesome at pollinatig unless you want to control a cross which a rookie shouldn't have to bother themselves with.. In fact, I'm waiting until year 5 before I try to beat the bees...

7/14/2007 12:17:12 AM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

If your daytime temps are high ice those females after pollination!!! I used to think this was just something that was a little overkill but after losing quite a few females after pollination I finally tried it...now I'm a believer!

7/14/2007 12:24:11 AM

Denver, CO

Maybe a little late for this but here is a link to the HOW TO section found at the home page of this site. It has a good explanation of what to do and great pictures to follow as well. Copy and paste into your browser.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/HowTo/Pollinate/

If temps are higher then 85 degrees you will need to place a styrafoam cooler over the pumpkin after pollination with a frozen bottle of water (20oz coke bottle or the like) underneath the cooler near but not touching the pumpkin. Rotate out with newly frozen bottles every 4 to 6 hours for at least a 24 hour peroid. Keep a shade cover of some sort over the newly pollinated pumpkin for several days afterwards.

7/14/2007 11:13:50 PM