From

Location

Message

Date Posted

No. Stonington, CT

i should be pollinating my first pumpkin in 3-4 days, what are your techniques of pollinating, like do you swab each lobe, or tap the male over the female? which in your opinion is most effective of getting the pollen where it is needed to go?
thanks

7/21/2004 10:33:17 AM

Western NY

the most visually effective way that i have found is to swab the male(s) on the female, then move any excess pollen into every crack and crevice you can with one of those watercolor paintbrushes. (the really cheap kind with the thin plastic handle). seems to do a nice even job, but i'll know for sure when i start counting seeds this fall. oh, and i've never needed more than 3 males. usually only use two, or one if that's all i have.

7/21/2004 10:44:17 AM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

I usually do it the same way as andy says, and the techinque I use to cover the nite before the flowers open is to put the toe part of some panty hose over the flowers that will be used the next morning, as it will hold the flowers closed until you gently pull them off of the flowers the next day and the flowers will spring right open ready to have fun with each other.....But watch out, right when the hose come off you will have to battle to keep the bees away until that female is tied shut for a good planned polination.......

7/22/2004 3:20:17 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Also, a thought: If you are brushing the pollen on with a paintbrush, be careful what kind of brush you are using. A nice quality Windsor Newton brush will actually hold (and not release) a lot of the pollen. Cheap brushes actually work better in my opinion because the bristles will release more pollen onto the female...I prefer one that came out of a cheap kids' watercolor paint set, not a high end brush from an art supply store...

7/22/2004 5:06:20 PM

[email protected]

My wife had one of those old Nylon bristle makeup brushes I kept eyeballing. She knew I wanted it & made it a point to remind NOT to use it in the patch. So I bought her a new one. ;o) The old one was just "poofy" enough to work better than a new one.

Jesse, If you try this stunt with Mom's makeup brush, make sure to have a plan. LOL

7/22/2004 6:46:56 PM