From

Location

Message

Date Posted

CT

We want to know if there's a way that you can tell when the female buds will flower the night before. Our plan is to cover them with a nylon stocking so the bees don't get to them before we do. Thanks for any help! RVSK

6/19/2001 4:25:36 PM

canal winchester ohio

for the next week keep a eye on your males, after watching them you will see they get a certain look the night before..........Paul

6/19/2001 5:21:22 PM

Herndon, VA

The night before the tips will look a little "fluffy" and not so uptight. As Paul said, watch the males and you will know what to look for. --Bruiser

6/19/2001 7:27:08 PM

Glenn Springs S.C.

How long after the females appear do they open? I seem to be getting new females everyday they are about the size of a marble and light yellow. The reason I ask is I'm going on vacation for a week starting saturday will I have to hope the bees do it right or will they be waiting 11days from now when I return?
Jeff

6/19/2001 9:15:42 PM

Herndon, VA

Jeff- I seem to think I first noticed mine about 2 weeks before they opened. The sizes vary; the flower is what you need to be looking at. The flowers are only fertile the first day, supposedly the first 4-6 hours after they bloom...so they're not gonna wait for ya. I hope your bees do a better job than mine. --Bruiser

6/19/2001 10:15:34 PM

Grants Pass, Oregon

Do the male flowers open before the females do? I had one male open on my 2nd plant, and my female flower is looking nice and ready to open here soon. The problem is the male flower has already dried up before the female has even opened. Any chance there will be more males to open soon? The female has a nice fruit on it about the size of a quarter right now. It is a nice light to medium yellow. Any thoughts would be great. Cary

6/19/2001 10:32:22 PM

Newville/PA

Polka Dots-Next time you get a male blossum freeze it. Thats what I do. When you freeze the male flower they stay nice and fresh and don't lose any pollen. So the next male you see snatch it right up. But make sure when you freeze it to be gentle or the flower will break. Thats what I heard and I think it works. ~Ryan

6/19/2001 10:39:09 PM

Grants Pass, Oregon

Hey Ryan, thanks for the advise. I hope another male blossom will come my way soon. But sad to say, I think my female blossom will be opening up sooner than the time I will get a male blossom. Cary

6/20/2001 12:35:12 AM

Choctaw, OK

I can tell when a female will open when the tip of the flower is a yellowish green color the day before it opens, and usually it will open early next morning. YOu can observe this on the males too, they do the same. That is what i look for, and works for me.

Case

6/20/2001 12:34:30 PM

canal winchester ohio

I was thinking of freezing the males this year to make sure I get a cross pollination. How many have tried this & with how much success. And how long do you let them set out to thaw before using them.............Paul

6/20/2001 3:38:13 PM