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bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

Hi!
This past summer I accepted a summmer teaching job which meant I would not be home in the Am at the proper time for the traditional morning method of pollination.
So, just before I lost enough light to work, ( about 8:30-9:00 pm) I carefully pried ( very gently) open the female flower to be pollinated and then , again gently pollinated the female from three or four unopended male flowers from my designated pappa plants.
Once pollinated I tied the female blosson snugly with a twist tie and then protected the female of a one gallon medium weight zip lock bag. I also carefully shaded the female, so I would not cook the female in the next days sun.

I have been wondering?... will this process undertaken the evening before the blossoms would have naturally opened, (assuming the pollen is fresher and at its peak) transfer more desirable genetic traits?
Other than a serious proble find off barbaric swarms of mice and some very hungry deer, My results ( sizes were respectable) My biggest one taped out at just a hare over 1400. When cut up in pieces, the actual weight was close to the tape.

Has anyone tried this before?
May I expect a beter transfer of genectic goodies by doing the pollination in the cool of the evening?
Ideas? Experience anyone.
Thanks!!

Bill Price

12/20/2007 9:32:34 AM

Ohio

Im not sure exactly what your saying Bill but hopefully someone eles will chime in. But I was wondering what seed you grew your 1400 lber off of?

Brooks

12/20/2007 9:42:06 PM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

Bill if you call 1400 respectable I hate to be at a weighoff when you grow a dandy by your standards. Way to go.

I find your question interesting as I will be in that scenario next year and it looks like it must work.

Kirk

12/21/2007 4:31:10 AM

Carrollton, Ga.

Wow that is interesting, I wouldn't of thought the pollination would of taken the evening before. Good to know.

Doug

Jn. 3:16

12/21/2007 5:16:13 AM

Western NY

Bill - you're the first person I know who has tried pollinating the night before. It should not change the genetic potential of the seeds as compared to the traditional way. Good to know it can be done that way, though.

12/21/2007 8:49:40 AM

bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

Hi
It was off a 1502. But a hungry deer took a nip out of it and then despite all my efforts, black fungus stepped in.
I called it respectable because so many great growers have been encouraging me on. It really hurt when to rotted. I owe a lot to people like Andy W, Joe Pukos, Pap.....
Their good advice and encouragement-- along with others really dedicated me to growing that one.
Iam proud to be a grower.. I have so many awesome growers.. Truly the comraderie of pumpkin growing is a real inspiration.. Especially this time of year.. Its like Christmas Spirit year round!
Thanks guys!!!

Merry Christmas to all!!!!!

12/21/2007 9:03:32 AM

bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

correctuion.. I have met so many awesome growers...

12/21/2007 9:04:30 AM

bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

ps- you can see... from my typing... I would definitely be a lousy keyboarding instructor... grin..

12/21/2007 9:06:48 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

As long as the male pollen is viable the evening before pollination should take. Now if you could clip those male flowers and refrigirate them until a hour before they are needed it would be even better. I posted an article on here about the length of time pollen is viable. Anything over 8 hours I believe was less than 10%. The more heat and humidity the worse it was.

12/21/2007 1:59:50 PM

Northeast

I ceratinly have ripped open females and male in the dark early am when I had to go to work early. That works no problem. Dave

12/22/2007 9:31:16 AM

Nicholls Georgia

i did what david did and it worked fine for me last year
but i got my males the afternoon before

12/22/2007 10:13:39 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I'm surprised that this worked! But I'm glad it did. Sometimes I need to pollinate at 5:30 or 6:00am, and usually need to help the female open at this hour (makes it easy to ensure a non-contaminated cross!) and this works for me, although I didn't think it would be optimal.

12/22/2007 1:33:19 PM

Ohio

every pumpkin I have ever pollinated in the last two years has been in the dark right before 5am in the morning before I go to work. I always bring the male in the night before and open it myself that morning infront of a small heater before taking it outside to the female.

12/22/2007 3:08:54 PM