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Location

Message

Date Posted

Buffalo, New York

does anyone here not hand pollinate and let the bees do it for you?

how big could a pumpkin get with the bees doing the work for us?

just curious.....

7/12/2008 10:14:12 PM

Pennsylvania

It will be the same size as it would be if you hand pollinated it, the catch is that your seeds will be impure and you will probobly have it crossed with a zuchinni or cucumber or something.

7/12/2008 10:58:56 PM

Puyallup, WA

Only neophytes allow the bees to pollinate.

7/12/2008 11:18:45 PM

Pennsylvania

Said well, young padawan.

7/12/2008 11:49:54 PM

Eugene,OR

Stan, you are forgetting those who oversleep. Sometimes they let the bees pollinate.

7/13/2008 12:12:57 AM

Puyallup, WA

Let me assure you...when morning temps are below 50° like they are here more frequently than not...there ain't no bees stirring before 9 am!!!

7/13/2008 1:04:47 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

My first couple of years I let the bees pollinate. Seeds and crosses weren't a priority. Now I try to make crosses I'd like to maybe grow.

7/13/2008 1:06:01 AM

Germany (Bavaria)

My patch is about 15 miles far away from home. So there is not often the chance to do some pollinations before work.
Of course I´m trying to get some nice crosses to plant them next year, but sometimes an open pollinated fruit is a compromise. Above all, bees are doing their job much more better than we do!
Raimund

7/13/2008 6:38:46 AM

Clarence, NY

Made that mistake many years ago - the acorn squash crossed in and I ended up with a 285 lb greenie. Don't let the bees get involved.

7/13/2008 8:48:35 AM

Springfield, VT

I have on plants that don't want to take pollenation, the bees seem to do it where I can't. Most often this is with sqaush plants.

7/13/2008 9:45:04 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Again Pollination only affects the Off Spring. Now take pumpkitrons statement. "The Acorn Squash crossed in and I ended up with a greenie" Only a neophyte would believe this as a Acorn Squash is not a C. Maxima so an Atlantic Giant and a Acorn Squash C. Pepo can not cross. Now a Hubbard Squash yes..So the morale of the story is even if an Atlantic Giant could cross with a Acorn Squash it would still not affect this years pumpkin, only next years offspring.

7/13/2008 12:12:23 PM