From

Location

Message

Date Posted

milford, CT,

I'm posting this to see if I am just a bad pollinator or if my numbers match other growers. Typically I get a 1 out of 3 success rate for pollinations.I use a minimum of 3 male flowers and pollinate @ 7-8 am. I'm almost embarrassed to post this but I've tried all different methods over the past 4 years and I still end up with these same success rates. I just pollinated my first round and guess what...1 out of 3 took. Any help would be so appreciated. Temps have been @ 85-90 degrees. Mark

6/29/2008 9:52:30 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Mark,
The heat could be the problem. Are you trying to cool the newly pollinated females? Otherwise, maybe pollinating around 9-10 AM if possible, would give better results?

6/29/2008 9:56:47 PM

Rhode Island

are you using freshly opened males or older ones? pollon is only good the morning the male opens. after that its dried out or the bees have harvested it

6/30/2008 4:57:16 AM

Wallingford,CT

Mark, I find the biggest source of pollination failures is from trying to get them done to early in the morning so I can get to work on time. If I wait until between 8 and 8:30 the success rate increases but you also need to prevent over temperature.

6/30/2008 6:15:25 AM

milford, CT,

Thanks guys,..I harvest the males the night before at @ 7:00 pm, and leave then in a cup with a little water in my kitchen till morning. I'll give the next round a try a little later @ 8:30 , that also should give the females a little more time to puff up with pollen. Thanks...I'll post how I made out next week. mark

6/30/2008 8:08:59 AM

Saegertown Pa.

You could have to much Nitrogen in your soil if this is bin going on for four years. I don't think it's from doing it at 7-8 I have polinated at 5 Am before and had good results.

6/30/2008 9:08:42 AM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

Mark, try covering the males with a plastic baggie and leave them on the plant. I find the success rate to go down if you only use flowers that were brought into the house. Also on hot days use ice. 1 liter plastic soda bottles work great.

6/30/2008 9:48:49 AM

Simi valley, ca

85* should not be much of problem, but over 90* gets trickey , It will be 95* this week & i will be pollenating! I have shade over the area of pumpkin starting several days before aprox 3 x 5 ft & up 3 ft high ,I THINK THATS IMPORTANT TO COOL THE AREA! but also use the ice jug under ice chest ,Find a cheep styrofom one ,cut for leaves & adjust one side up off ground a bit or it will be too cold & MAYBE the shock would not be good eather , keep ice several inchs from female also ,, I sometimes put peices of ice on ground close too main just before female too (BUT) noy directly over main ,maybe 5 inchs away ,, have misters going,, & keep watered good , some times cool off around vines with hose durring the day,, yes its alot ,But iv had sucess on 100*-110* days

6/30/2008 12:14:15 PM

The Garden State

I do everything just as you describe (except for I use a 6 am pollination time and ice) and my rate has been 8 out of 9.

6/30/2008 12:32:02 PM