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Bristol R.I. USA

Be transported through the mail to be used to pollinate ones Pumpkin. Is it possible to have a grower from California Mail you a male flower and that flower's pollen still be viable and able to give off the genetic trait of the male parent.

5/15/2010 5:43:59 PM

Columbus Ohio

Kenny
I pick flowers the night before and put them in water in the house. They tend not to open till they see sun. I would imagine that you could pick them, overnite them and use them the 3rd day. I have never tried, but ut would be worth a try. As long as the seeds took, you would have the parent genes.

5/15/2010 6:53:46 PM

Pataskala,OH

Maybe if you pick them 2-3 days before they are supposed to open.

5/15/2010 7:29:26 PM

Joliet, IL

here is something that nic welty might want to consider as a source for raising money for their ohio weigh off.

http://www.afloral.com/Floral-Supplies/3-Recycled-Water-Tubes-1-000-Pieces

for a $55 investment on 1000 water tubes and maybe some styrofome packaging similar to what florists use, i imagine there would be more than a few out there willing to donate a predetermined amount for say 3 male flowers from the 1725 clone plant and then pay for the overnight shipping rate also.

i imagine if there are a couple 1725 clones, one could purposely grow one for this reason and still go for a giant pumpkin off it.

with the chances of a world record or say any killer genetics to be mailed overnite with success could revolutionize this sport for breeding wise purposes.

how much do we pay for seeds at auction? sometimes a lot just for a chance at getting a seed with similar results from the same genetic strain. now take that up a notch and knowing the the plant already produced the world record. how much would i pay? i would pay easily 100 bucks besides delivery fee for 3 big healthy male flowers from the 1725 clone to be picked the day before opening morning, packed with a 3" floral tube with florsit stem sealant or florist tape to make sure the water does not drain out of the tubes, and delivered to me with special delivery time costs at exactly 5:30 am. the next morning when i know a prime female will open. i would pay for the chance. knowing i have grown seeds in blossoms pumpkins with no ill result, why not? i mean if you got the cash. just like a stud service for horses.

it will take enough people to do trial and error setting pumpkins with overnight flowers to get it done right and figure out the best method. the incentive of 1725 pollen would quicken the learning curve a lot.

5/15/2010 8:52:26 PM

Joliet, IL

kenny it is a good question asked here and a nice post. and by the way, happy birthday!!!!!!!!!

5/15/2010 8:59:01 PM

Las Cruces NM

It is common in horticulture, in the producing of a new hybrid, to collect pollen from an early blooming variety to pollinate a later blooming variety. This is often necessary as many varieties rarely bloom at the same time. In some cases it is dried and frozen and then used in the next season (required when a later variety is used as pollinator for an early one). Would this work for AG’s is the question? Freezing terminates some pollen and I suspect AGs may fall into that catagory. But if properly prepaired it should stay viable for some period of time, likely a week or more. I don’t think anyone can answer how long AG pollen stays viable in what conditions. I could say I tried it and it doesn't work, but my methods would have to be scrutinized (at least I would hope someone would). So you just have to try it. But in so doing, I suspect sending a flower may not be best method as the pollen would quickly spoil with bloom senescence (overnight mail would probably work?). I would think best results would be obtained with raw pollen, dried for a couple hours indoors, packed with desiccation (or perhaps AG are desiccation sensitive?) and expediantly mailed.

BTW, I heard Nic managed to kill the 1725 clones so the 1000 water tubes would have been a wasted investment :P

5/15/2010 11:26:50 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

That would be a great idea shazzy. I remember a post awhile back saying that none of Nic's clones where still alive. I don't know if this is true or not?

5/15/2010 11:28:20 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

I know that I have read here on bp.com about folks shipping male flowers for pollination!!! I don't seem to be able to come up w/the correct words in the search box!!! Any help? Peace, Wayne

5/16/2010 1:18:12 AM

Gold Hill, Oregon

this thought crossed my mind after someone offered clones from back east. would they make it out west? if so maybe we could have clones included at seed auctions????

dave

5/16/2010 2:57:27 AM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

the clones didn't make it.

5/16/2010 9:41:24 AM

El Paso TX.

@ Peace Wayne --- Try "Saving Pollen" ! (It brings up 3 articles from 2005 - 2007 discussing it and a couple other things) - I had read them a few days ago when Snake Oil had mentioned in the seed exchange that he desperately needed a seed to keep his plans alive of using it as a pollinator for several plants before I posted a suggestion to perhaps find a grower growing the seed to send him a few if he was unsuccessful at finding the seed - (figured it would be worth a shot and possibly get him the results he was hoping for.)

5/16/2010 10:54:39 AM