From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Fairport,NY

How much pollen is really necessary to get a Good pollination? I mean if a bee just lands on a female with a few grains on it's feet and the Pumpkin is pollinated does a few grains of pollen on a paintbrush do the trick?

6/25/2008 7:48:42 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

I say 2 males is the minimum. Why strive for only the minimum. I say give it all the pollen it can hold (until the lobes are completely fuzzy with pollen) to ensure proper pollination. Usually I find that 3 is just perfect.

6/25/2008 8:20:20 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Let me clarify, I meant in general why strive for just enough (a couple grains). The actual minimum I would trust is 2. But go with 3.

6/25/2008 8:21:18 PM

Clarence, NY

I was under the impression that the extent of pollination is a function of number of seeds generated. Naturally you want as much as possible to ensure effective pollination but if only one lobe is pollinated you'll still be successful.

6/26/2008 9:59:00 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Hmmm..."but if only one lobe is pollinated you'll still be successful"...I never really thought about it like that. So maybe if you only have one flower it would be better to try and really cover a couple lobes instead of trying to put a little on all the lobes.

6/26/2008 10:59:50 AM

Clarence, NY

Sorry to confuse the matter with theory. I'm not suggesting that we avoid covering all 5 lobes. Heck in practice, as you suggest, cover the top, bottom & sides. It only creates a better likelihood for success!

6/26/2008 1:54:00 PM

southwest MO

One grain of pollen = one seed... Soooo 500 seeds 500 grains of pollen. One healthy male flower contains way more than enough to do the job. Use as many as you want.

6/26/2008 3:11:09 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Theory is always useful. I think your idea is a good one. I agree about not avoiding covering all, but if you can't you can't. Perhaps if you can only get one flower, that might work out better.

6/26/2008 10:27:34 PM