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NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

What if the female looks like it is ready to open and there are no male flowers ready to pollenate the female? I have the female covered with some cheesecloth so the bees do not get to it but what happens if it opens tomorrow waiting to be pollenated and there are no male flowers ready? Thanks in advance.

6/24/2004 7:58:10 PM

[email protected]

Then you're singing the blues.

That or finding a nearby AG grower with some male pollen to donate. Who lives close by?

6/24/2004 8:13:03 PM

Key West, FL

In the future you can save pollen for a couple days in the fridge. I cut the flower off the plant when it opens, stick it in water and put it in the fridge if I think I will need in the next few days.

6/24/2004 8:35:27 PM

northern indiana

If you are lucky you will have a male open. But if they haven't popped their pollen yet you can make them do it. Last yr I had to leave for work before the males pollen had popped. The flowers were smooth and no pollen was ready. If this happens to be your situation then take the males you want to use and start your vehicle and turn the heater on, set the males in front of the warm air, and in a few minutes (10 or 20 depends on how warm the air is) you will have pollen! You can then pollenate the female and go about your business. I don't know if this would work with a male that was still a day away from opening or not but it does work with open ones. Temp has something to do with the pollen popping in the males so don't get them too hot just nice and warm.
Hope this helps.
Eric

6/24/2004 8:58:13 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

I do not know who lives nearby and I feel like I do not know any one here at bigpumpkins well enough to ask them for a male flower and maybe too late anyway. Even if someone would be kind enough to give me a male flower Suppose the female opens tomorrow? I would not be able to get it in time. I guess that is ok anyway. There is another female flower about 3ft. farther down the vine and I guess I will use that one if this one opens before the males do. I read somewhere tyhat some growers do not like the females too close to the stump. This first one is about 6.5 ft the second about 9.5 ft. Thanks for all the help guys. It is much appreciated.

6/24/2004 9:09:56 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

How long can you save a male flower in the fridge? I do not know how much longer it will take for this male to open maybe a day or two or three.

6/24/2004 9:12:29 PM

[email protected]

I've heard folks say it lasts as long as lettuce in the refrigerator. In the freezer, I've heard up to 2 years. Though I don't know anyone who has used 2 year old pollen succesfully.

6/24/2004 10:14:32 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Have you kept pollen in the refriderator? If so, then how long? Anyone else ever store pollen in the refridgerator?

6/24/2004 10:38:31 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

You have to make a midnight run, a map with directions, a flashlight, and your all set. Brigitte had to do this last year. Post what city you live in and maybe someone can help you. You still have plenty of time most people don't set a pumpkin until after the 4th.

6/24/2004 11:42:19 PM

Cologne / Germany

Hi Steve, I just found some pollen from July 2002 in the deep freeze. I´ll wait for some female on a secondary and try the experiment :)

6/25/2004 4:02:49 AM

huntsburg,ohio

Where in PA are you rootbeer maker?Jerry

6/25/2004 7:34:51 AM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

I am in northeast PA near the Poconos. This morning at 8:30 the male was open so Iswabbed the open female with the male. I do not knwo how much pollen was there or how much I got on it. I rubbed it all over where I should have. Hopefully that was enough. If not there is another female 3 ft. away. Maybe better with that one. I do not know how to count how many lobes. Forgive me I am a rookie. but I swabbed it as well as I think I could have. Another question is should I have abandoned this pumpkin at 6 ft for on at maybe 9 ft or anothe rone if it grows farther? Is there any advantages/disadvantages either at 6 ft or 10 ft? Thanks.

6/25/2004 9:30:50 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Eric, I'm happy to report your method worked extremely well for me this morning. I harvested six flowers and placed them on the oven door with the temperature set to 210*f and in just a few minutes the pollen was seen accumulating like crazy. I now have a growing store of pollen in the fridge that would satisfy any bee hive for awhile. Not too hot though is the key. My wife is happy as she gaining her window sill back again. These AGP's have a way of encroaching into all aspects of your life. Little things like this are very important in saving time. Thanks for the tip hapdad.

6/25/2004 9:40:13 AM

Cologne / Germany

Nice to hear the oven door method works. Did anyone tried this with pollen from the fridge or the freezer? Biggest problem seems to be that pollen gets clumpy due to humdity inside any cooling unit.

6/25/2004 7:28:57 PM

Wallingford,CT

has anyone actually used frozen pollen succesfully? How long was it frozen? I'm interested in the details of what works and what doesn't. I'm going to try some thats been frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -70 C. private email would be helpfull. Bart

6/25/2004 10:00:48 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

About the pollen in the refridgerator, I do believe that it would clump because of the moisture such as floh said but the fresh food drawer, mine is moisture controlled, does anyone think that would help?

6/25/2004 10:11:03 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Moisture is the biggie for me with freezing and thawing pollen for use. If it's wet, they tend to not take and set. I'm grappling with this problem by trying a few other things besides glass test tubes and vials but am just getting started with experimenting.
The sets I have successfully gotten were with frozen, but fairly dry, pollen...seems to be the key.
Bart...I got your e-mail and will reply tomorrow.

6/26/2004 1:58:20 AM

Wichita, KS

Kyle,
Have you tried wax paper instead of glass? Since it doesn't retain or attract heat, my guess is that moisture will not condense on it, leaving the pollen drier the the test tube would. I wonder if it would work to fold it up in a do-it-yourself wax paper envelope with a dessicant packet inside?

I'm in the middle of moving, so I'll give it a try when escrow closes in 4 days. I'll try to let you all know how it goes this time next week. :)

6/27/2004 12:28:34 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Toby...I put some in freezer paper this morning, then wrapped in foil. It seemed like it made sense, the moisture thing is a bitch unless you can go -70 below.
I believe you're right, out go the glass vials.

6/27/2004 2:43:28 AM

Cologne / Germany

Freezer paper - again something not available over here:)
Last night we had some neighbourhood talking about what the driest storage method for something like pollen could be. Suddenly someone said "use a matchbox, what could be drier than that"!?
Good idea. Tried it today. Scratched off some pollen into an empty matchbox, put it into a freezer bag and sealed it with a kitchen vacuum cleaner. Pics are in my diary.

6/27/2004 8:42:57 PM