From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Clarence, NY

It rained very heavy this morning and I have two females open and ready to accept pollen. It has stopped raining. Question - should I pollinate them now or wait until later today when they are dry?

6/28/2008 8:30:26 AM

Waquoit Mass

now your males will be no good

6/28/2008 8:43:17 AM

Waquoit Mass

i like your intial post wet females hamr

6/28/2008 8:44:07 AM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

I tent my flowers the night before with zip lock bags. If either the male for females got wet, you are likely out of luck today. I pollinated a female this morning. It is raining here, but I have no worries because they were tented. I also conver the female back up again with the zip lock if it is raining (like today). The only caution is that if you go away for the day and the sun comes out you can cook the female under the baggie.

6/28/2008 8:48:31 AM

Clarence, NY

The males were kept inside & pollen was dry.

6/28/2008 8:48:39 AM

Waquoit Mass

why would you bring in your males but not cover your females makes no sense

6/28/2008 11:07:17 AM

Jericho Vermont

I cut up wifes old nylons into 8 inch strips and tie a knot on one end. The night before pollination I sellect my males and the female that will be open and I cover them with these stockings. Also as John said I put a small ziplock bag over the stocking. With this method you can pollinate in the pouring rain with an umbrella just cut males off from the plant and wait to un-bag them until you are fully ready to pollinate. Also remember to cover the female back up with the stocking and the baggy (if it is raining) after you pollinate her.
John

6/28/2008 11:36:24 AM

Clarence, NY

This is just a mistake - didn't check the forecast and got caught. Males were pulled earlier the previous morning to avoid bee attack. Oh well - Live & Learn! Thanks all...

6/28/2008 11:45:20 AM

Long Island,New York

Ok...quick refresher....cover the females the evening before so they don't open to the bees.....they won't be open in the rain the next morning if you do this.
Cover the males the evening before so they aren't open to the bees....they won't be open in the rain if you do this. If you bring them inside then remove them from the plant the evening before so they'll be ready and not available to the bees in the morning...if you do this correctly they won't be open to the rain in the kitchen either.

6/28/2008 1:09:51 PM

South Finland [email protected]

And if you want to play real safe and expecting heavy rain you could always bring females to kitchen night b4 too.

6/28/2008 2:42:56 PM

[email protected]

Once they open flowers that are rained on will never be good. The pollen will be ruined even if it hasn't been knocked to the ground. Even if some of it is still viable then we sill have an open pollination.

6/28/2008 6:37:04 PM

Pennsylvania

Oh, I thought this thread was about something COMPLETELY different.

6/28/2008 8:49:15 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Last night before the rain, I brought in some male flowers for morning pollination. I also covered my female with cheesecloth to keep it closed till morning. Well, its rained all night and even this am..are you saying, even though I kept my female closed and cut my males and brought inside, the female flower will no good? Thanks Croley Bend

6/29/2008 7:03:29 AM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

AS long as you keep the males dry on the way to the patch and while pollinating and cover the female after you pollinate with something like a styrofoam cup to keep the water out you should have no problem. It's a good idea to use an umbrella while pollinating to keep any rain from going into the female before you get her covered back up.

6/29/2008 8:14:50 AM

Waquoit Mass

i usually just cover the males and females with zip sandwich bags the night before quick and easy hamr.

6/29/2008 8:30:17 AM

Williamsburg,KY

Great, Im on my way to the patch!

6/29/2008 8:40:24 AM