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Abilene, Texas

I live in Abilene, Texas so I know I am already asking for trouble. But I got up this morning anticipating pollinating my first female when I noticed none of the males had any pollen. I read on the watermelon forum that the pollen production is best from 9-10 am. Is that the case for Atlantic Giants also? Or is it b/c the nighttime temps stayed above 75 last night. I have the ice jugs ready for the post pollination for female, but I never thought about the males. I'm going to go home at 9:15ish and check again, but I don't really know what to expect. I'm afraid there won't be any pollen and the last 2 months will be for not. I've got another plant and even another pumpkin on this vine (not counting secondary vines), but it's close to 18 feet out. Any advice will be greatly appreciated! I have "How to Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins III", but don't remember anything about a lack of pollen.

Thanks everyone!!

6/11/2010 9:33:43 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

is there anything inside the males or just a empty flower? if so then you have a sterile plant. sorry to break it to ya but the female will not take even with pollen from a different normal plant. i had to pull a 650 sq foot 1343 lyons last year due to this. good luck -jim

6/11/2010 9:42:57 AM

Abilene, Texas

It looks normal other than the lack of pollen. The stamen looks normal

6/11/2010 9:52:40 AM

Abilene, Texas

Well, I just went to check on them again. Nothing changed. Out of two plants and about 10 male flowers, only one had any signs of pollen and there wasn't much. The bees are everywhere though. Some flowers had 5+ bees in them, but they aren't going to find anything there.

I checked my other squash and zucchini plants and some of those flowers lacked pollen also, but not all of them.

Is there any hope? I'm going to pay more attention for the next few days before my other females are ready, but I'm afraid it's hopeless. I just wish I knew what the problem was so I could fix it next time. I definitely started them late this year. They were in the ground by Apr 10th, but should have been in a month earlier.

Oh well, I would still appreciate any advice or even guesses at this point. Do some plants produce flowers with stamens but no pollen? My seed is from the 912 Jaser that I bought from Howard Dill Enterprises. So it should have good genetics. LIke I said, I am new to this whole giant pumpkin thing...and apparently am failing. I just htought the heat in July and August or the bugs would beat me...not a lack of pollen.

6/11/2010 10:44:37 AM

New York

Cover a few males the night before they're set to open so the bees can't attack them in the morning.

6/11/2010 10:54:18 AM

Abilene, Texas

So you think the bees maybe already got all the pollen? There wasn't even any left at the bottom of the flower cup except for that one. If that's the case, maybe there is hope for my female. I left the ice jugs by it so we'll see. Don't get me wrong, I don't actually think it'll set, but I can hope!

6/11/2010 11:01:33 AM

[email protected]

Has it been cold?

Heat makes pollen rise.

Try this:

Make sure they are old enough to open on their own. Then collect a few in vases. Store in the fridge over night. Place them on the oven door with the heat set low.

Now you'll have unadulterated pollen with no insects or rain water "helping".

6/11/2010 11:07:02 AM

Abilene, Texas

It's been warm, but not hot by Texas standards. It definitely has not been cold. It hasn't been below 70 for about a week with high in the mid 90s. So are you saying that I need to chill them b/c I'm guessing I don't need to give them any more heat than they already have. But I will try anything you suggest.

6/11/2010 11:51:17 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Well if you have stamen then the problem is not what I thought, which is good. I always cut my males the night before they open and bring them inside. They bloom in a cup of water just the same as if they were on the plant. Make sure you are picking flowers that will open the next day and give that a shot. I think the bees may be stripping you of pollen before you wake up.

6/11/2010 1:35:21 PM

sevierville, Tn

Got to cover the males. The bees got it all, they start at dawn !

6/11/2010 2:03:26 PM

Abilene, Texas

Thank you all so much for the advice. It all sounds like great advice. I am thrilled to hear that the general consensus is that they are producing pollen but that the bees are carrying it all off before I got to them. I should have practiced on one several days or weeks ago like I have read that some people do. I would have been prepared today if that was the case.

I am now worried that my pumpkin is going to be too far from the stump. The next chance I have on this vine looks to be about 18 feet out. What problems do people have with fruit this far out? I think I have noticed more green showing up in these latest females, but it could just be a coincidence. I have some hybrid squash that is yellow for the first few weeks but as the season goes on, the fruit has more green in it. Green on the fruit isn't desirable, but I was only planning to enter my pumpkin in the fair in Sept so it shouldn't be a huge problem. But I'm guessing there are other problems I should be prepared for. And more advice?

Thanks again for sharing your ideas!

6/11/2010 3:02:19 PM

Roy, Washington

FWIW, the 1622 Young was 23' out. I wouldn't worry about it.

6/11/2010 4:24:19 PM

Griffith, In

do you cover the males and females that are ready to open the night before?? or,,,are they opened already when you are going to get them to use for pollination??

6/11/2010 4:36:33 PM

Abilene, Texas

This is my first attempt at pollinating and no, both were left uncovered. I never considered the possibility of the bees carrying off all the pollen. I am still amazed that they got every single piece of pollen on all but one flower by 8am. I'm just hoping that they carried enough over to the single female. I know the chances of that aren't good. I didn't cover the female b/c I only have two plants and they are from the same seed stock and I didn't know if I would even want to save the seeds b/c I don't expect my pumpkins to be all that large. I will be thrilled with a 300lber in my first year and in this climate. I just guessed on the seed to buy this year, but next year I will do more research and try to find some that do well in warmer weather (although none do very well at 95+).

I have been thrilled that mine have shown very little wilt, even in the heat of the day. I do have a redneck shade system up to give them about 20% shade during the day and I am diligent about burying the vines and mulching and spray the plants when I can in the heat of the day. But anyway, that's more than you asked.

The answer...no, I haven't covered the male or female flowers the night before. I will try to cover some and cut some others and bring them inside from now on. My next attempt should be in a couple of days.

Thanks yet again for sharing your genius with a newbie!

6/11/2010 5:53:31 PM

Okla

In our hotter climate the females and male flowers will usually open about daybreak.I try to pollinate about the time they open, so that is a lot earlier than what you went out and done. I use pantyhose or stockings to cover the flowers with. If I use pantyhose I cut the legs the lengths I need and tie the end, they stretch out and slip right over the flowers very easy. You can find pantyhoses at the dollar stores or walmarts real cheap.
Be out as soon as it starts getting daylight next time and you will have a better chance of getting the pollinating done.

6/11/2010 8:05:05 PM

East Jordan, MI

Don't give up on the female yet. Mother Nature has been doing this A LOT longer than us. My bet is that is got pollinated.

6/11/2010 9:10:15 PM

[email protected]

Yeah but now they're open pollinated rather than closed crosses. Pick the males AND bag the females for closed crosses.

6/11/2010 10:20:34 PM

Ontario

make sure you dont water the day before you want to pollinate.
try getting to the males when they just start to open at dawn

6/11/2010 11:33:06 PM

Abilene, Texas

Thanks again for the mountain of advice...and it all sounds like great advice. I wonder why some of these things weren't mentioned in "How to Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins III". Maybe b/c it was talked about in the first two books which I haven't read. I cut some male flowers and brought them inside for the night to see what happens with the pollen. There are no females to pollinate until maybe Sun morning.

You guys are all great! Gotta love the giant pumpkin growing community! Thanks again!

6/12/2010 1:10:37 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Eric, obvious from yer previous post's you can tell when they are going to open!!! I tie my "to open" female at the top w/ a bit of yarn, and cover it w/a styro cup. I also harvest a few males, the night b/4 (that will be opening the next am)...bring em inside!!! The next am, I trim em (the males) and set em in a sunny window!!! Bingo, bango, bongo!!! Uncover & untie the female, pollinate, retie, and recover!!! Peace, Wayne

6/12/2010 2:57:48 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Males in a cup o water!!! duh!! Peace, Wayne

6/12/2010 2:58:45 AM

Abilene, Texas

Well, I brought 6 males inside last night and covered the female. I got up this morning and had all the pollen I needed and even ended up leaving a the 6th male for the bees b/c I just could find anywhere else to put some pollen on the female. This female looked so much better than the previous one that I failed with too. It has 4 lobes instead of a jacked up 3. I just hope it sets. I've got the ice jugs surrounding it.

How many days before I know for sure if it set? I still don't know for sure about the previous one. It isn't shriveling up yet...

Thanks again for all the wonderful and sanity saving advice!

6/14/2010 9:24:06 AM