From

Location

Message

Date Posted

sevierville, Tn

If you have to be at work early & still want controlled sets....i tried a new method today. At 530am i turned on a simple light with a 100 watt bulb(60 didn't work the other day)& pointed it at the female. the light was about 10 inches away from the flower. I also put some males in water next to the female. By 7 am both had opened & were ready. No other flowers on the plant were open. I did the pollination & was off to work. Hope it sets. I'll let you know if it works since this may solve the problem of early in the day pollinations.

6/13/2012 12:31:37 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

There is a 5:30 in the morning? It's strange that I have never seen it.

6/13/2012 4:38:19 PM

Piqua, Ohio

I've used an electric heater with good luck, I have the same problem 6 am to 7 pm

6/13/2012 8:30:59 PM

Buffalo, New York

i leave for work ay 530am.......gonna be difficult here :(

6/13/2012 8:54:17 PM

Muddy Waters

So is it the heat or the light that opens the flower??Or Both?I dont have that problem.I just tell my customers I cant be to your house till 10 am I have melons to pollinate.LOL!I get some crazy looks!lol

6/13/2012 10:56:07 PM

Lloydminster/AB

Sunrise today 4:52 but it's plenty bright before that. I've never been able to determine optimum pollination time here. Maybe I'm missing the time because of our extended mornings. Sometimes they seem half open. Maybe they are half closed.hmmmm

6/14/2012 12:49:16 AM

sevierville, Tn

While i think its mostly the light, its probally a little of both.
As long as they are open (half or full) & the pollen is ready, i would think they could be pollinated.
Jeremy, that may be a little early, but i would still try one early to see if it works.

MMM, new job & all = 730am start, old job was 130pm ! that was nice but didn't pay the bills ;)

6/14/2012 12:35:44 PM

sevierville, Tn

so far so good, looks like it took. I did another this morning same way, hope it took since it looks like a keeper.

6/15/2012 1:46:01 PM

formerly RGG

Chris, I feel your experiments with plants and fruit keep you at the forefront of progress in melon growing techniques. Keep up the good work !

6/15/2012 10:14:17 PM

formerly RGG

Hey Chris, is Caro growing any melons this year ?

6/17/2012 12:24:49 AM

sevierville, Tn

Thanks Dennis, i just want to stay at the forefront of weights ! ;)
Caro=no

Looks like the pollinations worked BTW. I just really like controlled crosses if possible, so what ever i have to do to acheive that i will.

6/17/2012 8:23:07 AM

sevierville, Tn

UPDATE, works fine all melons set using the method ! Had some real nice ones this morning so i hope they set as it was hot(low 90's) today.

6/21/2012 5:37:00 PM