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Williamsburg,KY

Im finially getting females on the main vine. I have had many females on the secondaries. I have pollinated on the secondary just in case. My question: should I remove the male flowers until Im ready to pollinate the female on the main? Of course, I would leave the males when it comes close to pollination. What Im thinking, if something happens to my main vine, I would have to go to the secondary vine and may not know which plant's pollen was used by the bees. Does that make sense? Any comments, advise, suggestions are welcomed. Croley Bend

6/25/2008 9:55:29 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Not 100% sure what you mean but...

1. always remove (or at least cover) the males you intend to use to prevent contamination from other bugs bringing in foreign pollen, as well as to ensure that all the pollen is not gone when you go to pollinate

2. always cover the female flower to prevent contamination from bugs with other pollen

6/25/2008 11:24:37 AM

Somerset Ky

we tie the female bloom shut the night before opens and cover with a styrofoam cup.2 pick the male blooms that will open the next morning put in a styro foam cup take in your home add water use it pollinating in the morning.James VanHook

6/25/2008 1:17:40 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

croley,
I'm not sure what you're trying to say...can you state it more clearly? If you aren't doing controlled crosses(covering blossoms to prevent insect entry, at the correct times), you won't know the true male parent for sure.
I wouldn't remove any male flowers, unless you have a plant you are sure you won't be using pollen from. In my mind, it would be very hard to discern which male flowers to leave on the plant, to coincide with the females opening. You could end up with no males ready, if you remove some before pollination.

6/25/2008 6:31:43 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Doug 14, I get so dang excited when I start to think about my pumpkins. You are correct in your assumption, that I would not know the true male parent. I will not remove any male flowers, your right, what if I need one and like a doe doe head I took them away. Thanks for your advise, as you see, I really need it. Ole Green Goblin also chimed in, Hi James, wondered if I'd get them Van Hooks attention since Im growing their seeds. Thanks James for your input, now to learn how to tell when the night before is?? And thanks Jordan, I will do the same. There is so much to learn and all of you here are just great, THANKS. Croley Bend aka Stevann

6/25/2008 7:11:00 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Ok, one more question. Should I be removing the females from the secondary vines? I believe I read somewhere that some do that? In my previous question, I was worried that I was not going to get females on my main so I did pollinate on the secondary as insurance, but I could cut them just as easy.

6/25/2008 7:14:32 PM

Utah

Most growers, after few years of growing and hving several sucessful sets, are confident enough to just pollinate on the main vine.
but it's up to you. insurance is a good thing. You can always cut them off later when you know you have something set on the main. (a pumpkin just larger than a basketball)

6/25/2008 7:55:44 PM

Cochecton, NY

good question. how do you know what the night before opening is???

6/26/2008 3:20:54 PM

Ohio

Corley, this doesnt have anything to do with your question but, try this trick next year with your males, when you grow your secondaries out just leave the male flowers grow on the first couple secondaries on both sides of the main and then take the rest of the males off on your remaining secondaries as your plant grows out.
Todd Skinner told me to try this, and so far its working like a charm. I will have plenty of flowers to use this season for pollinating, and I also wont have to worry about crawling into my plant cutting off males that end up brown and soggy that could end up causing disease to the plant later.

6/26/2008 9:09:35 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Thanks everyone for your help and comments. I have placed a marker near my female on the main with a date and check it every am. Im also picking a male in the evening like Green Goblin said to see if I can tell when it may open in the am. Boy this sure is a learning thing. But Im hopeful.

6/27/2008 8:35:27 AM