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No. Stonington, CT

i have a pumpkin a little bigger than a pea on my 208 little wich has one, one foot long secondary, should i pollinate it or should i wait for the secondaries to get established? and once i set a pumpkin should i just let the main vine grow, or terminate it after it reaches x feet?

7/14/2004 3:51:30 PM

[email protected]

Pollinate everything Jesse. Then if you have a better one later, you can cut this one off. But if nothing better comes along, you'll still have one going.

Is the young female on the main? How far out?

Let them main grow as long as you can. Ideally, the main reaches at least 6-10' longer than the area where the fruit is set which is (again) ideally in the 10-14' range.

7/14/2004 5:33:26 PM

No. Stonington, CT

The main is right at 10 now and the pumpkin is really small so by the time its ready to pollinate it should be around 11 or 12. and yes the female is on the main...should i self pollinate do you think or should i use some from the other plant i have, which is a 620 boyton, keep in mind i am really interested in growing something with great orange color. Thanks for your input!

7/14/2004 7:56:32 PM

[email protected]

Kyle produced the 208 & he'll likley comment himself. Good thing too since genetics isn't my strongest subject.

Keep in mind that the best laid plans for crosses can go all to heck on pollination day if no male flowers are available. You will need to plan for this day. Perhaps keeping males in the refrigerator in a vase from the chosen donor. You can also collect pollen from the donor on creased wax paper. Gently tap the pollen of the wax paper & into a vial, seal & refrigerate until ready for use.

Are you comfortable identifying when a female is going to be ready to open yet?

7/14/2004 8:45:54 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

lil grower,
Maybe you realized this, but what you pollinate the pumpkin with, won't make a difference in the color of this year's fruit. It will effect the genetics of the seeds of that pumpkin.

Doug

7/14/2004 9:47:03 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Lil....since you don't have any other color plants going, I'd self the 208. Secure a few flowers the night before and place inside in a glass of water...fridge or room temp.
I was hoping the 208 would be a taller pumpkin but it's taking the shape of the pollinator, 940 Mombert '98. No matter, *should* still produce a beauty.

7/14/2004 10:11:37 PM

No. Stonington, CT

wow thanks everyone! yes i am pretty sure i am able to tell when she is going to open, and i will go ahead and self it. I was hoping i could grow one this year and then grow my own seed next year, i just thought it would be kinda cool. oh by the way, when pollinating should i gently swab each lobe? or tap the males over the lobes? will it make a difference?

7/14/2004 10:59:34 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

I tap to get the pollen down the pipeline in the middle of the female. There's a reason the inside of the female flower slopes towards the middle...

7/15/2004 12:01:37 AM

i gently swab all around on the stigma of the female with the males.... try to think like a bee, and apply it as they would if they were transfering pollen.

7/15/2004 1:22:14 AM

Utah

Lil,
the tip of the flower will pucker the day before it will open... you will also start to see yellow/orange showing on the flower

7/15/2004 10:07:08 AM

Utah

Kyle-
I have to agree with Brig on this one... you want the pollen to be all around the stigma. That's why the stigma "grabs" pollen. The pipe line or hole in the middle just happens to be how the flower is shaped.

7/15/2004 10:09:18 AM