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Bloomington, IN

I was wondering how long throughout the day its possible to pollinate a female flower. One of mine was opening up this morning but it and the male flower I have inside didn't open up all the way before I had to leave for something else. The female is covered to protect it from insects and is shaded from the sun and by the time I get home around 1 pm the temp will be in the lower 80's. Will I still be able to pollinate it then, or will it close?

7/10/2008 8:29:16 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

1 pm may be too late. I think 4 hours is the max, and my females open around 7-8. Might work, but only one way to find out.

7/10/2008 8:59:11 AM

Newmarket, NH USA

I try to go no later than 7am the longer you wait the less receptive they are. When I first started growing in 1996 I waited until after 10 am and none of them took. So I asked a grower why and he said earlier is best.

7/10/2008 9:10:43 AM

Bloomington, IN

Thanks for the reply, I guess I'll have to call home and have someone else do it for me. Though no one else at home knows jack about growing pumpkins, I'll have to guide them through it and pray to god they don't screw it up.

7/10/2008 9:15:13 AM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

A lot of heavy hitters say 8 to 9am is prime time. I agree with Jordan, I think 4 to 5 hours is about max.

7/10/2008 9:40:02 AM

Massillon, Ohio

what an interesting thread topic!!!! my friend should read this.

she needs your advice. she's a good friend of mine, but to be honest, i think she has a TOTALLY slacker job [teacher]. i mean, come on!! she pretty much just sits on her butt being Lazy (capial L) for three monthes! well the other day she "accidentally" slept in until 10:30 and didn't pollinate until 10:45. how could somebody seriously do that?!!

So what advice should I give her? Should I tell her she'll be OK? Or should I tell her to start packing her bags; 'cause when her self-proclaimed "pumpkin perfectionist" husband sees that pumpkin abort he will go berserk and leave her!!

7/11/2008 12:28:46 AM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

50-50 chance

7/11/2008 9:50:25 AM

Bloomington, IN

I got someone else to pollinate it for me at around 9:30 yesterday morning, but they didn't cover it and so the bees immediately swarmed it. So I'm pretty sure it was pollinated. Should've just let the bees do it in the first place, lol.

7/11/2008 10:48:13 AM

Washington

In our patch (Western WA) the females aren't fully opened until 10 or so because it is too cool in the mornings. So I think that the temperature has a lot to do with it. If you are in a hotter climate you need to catch them earlier.
I usually go out around 9:30 to check on the females to see if they are opening before cutting the males. Jack and I patrol the patch the night before and cover any suspect females with a paper cup. Then we decide which males we want and cover them with cups also. The next morning I cut the males and pollinate. Then I go through the patch and cut off any males that are open that we didn't use. So we always know which males are fresh.
Christy - I loved your commment about lazy teachers!!!! That's how Jack got me into this----"You have summers off, you can pollinate", LOL
Sherry LaRue

7/11/2008 11:58:46 AM

Massillon, Ohio

sherry, yep yep! then when something goes wrong, it is all our fault too. grrr. i mean "my friend's fault" ;)

7/11/2008 4:53:46 PM