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Ohio

How can you tell the flower is going to open the next morning for pollination? Is there a certain thing i will look for? I Would hate to miss Pollinating my plant when its time. Thanks, SlyChit

4/29/2004 2:53:17 PM

Ohio

Also, does anyone have any pictures of a flower that will open the next day?, thanks again

4/29/2004 2:56:54 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

This sounds funny but it will pucker up.

4/29/2004 3:09:00 PM

Utah

to add to what has already been said...
Watch the tips of the flowers. If they come to a sharp point and look tight, the flower will not open the next day. The flower will open the next day when you see the end of the flower near the point start to bulge or pucker slightly. Also sometimes the tip of the flower starts to seperate a little.

4/29/2004 3:16:15 PM

Independence, MO

Have you looked at the "Hand Pollinating" How-To on the site?
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/HowTo/Pollinate/

4/29/2004 3:22:36 PM

Ohio

thanks, this helps me alot, there will be more questions to come,lol

4/29/2004 4:15:40 PM

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=10458

4/29/2004 7:46:57 PM

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=10458

4/29/2004 7:46:57 PM

oops sorry i clicked it twice.... it's a link to a pic of a female flower the night before it opened.

4/29/2004 7:47:46 PM

C N Y

right around dusk or even earlier, you can look around your plants and see the ones that are "about to"....
they usually almost double in size from a day or two before to the night before! and they take on a pinkish/orangeish hue to them. get your habits going early, and zip-tie
the females and males shut the night before, to prevent open pollination by bees---AT LEAST practice this on a few pollinations this year.......eric

4/29/2004 8:05:45 PM

Independence, MO

Brigette, how did the yarn work out?

4/29/2004 9:33:31 PM

the yarn works ok, but you need a new piece to retie it. now I use mesh netting stuff (get it at any fabric store). i'm not sure what it's called, but it's the stuff that they put under the skirt part of prom dresses that make them poofy.

some people use clothes pins too.

4/29/2004 11:12:23 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

I use netting type material too but it's medical grade material for venous insufficiency patients, graded compression stockings....but small childrens socks work too, and little girls hose.

4/30/2004 12:39:16 AM

Edmonton, Canada

I use elastic bands. Cheap and easy!

4/30/2004 10:30:14 AM

Wichita, KS

You could cut the feet off your wife's nylons and use those. You should probably get her permission.

5/1/2004 8:24:12 PM