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Oak Grove, Mn

I am a new grower and this is my first post. After a late start to the season, today i finally was able to pollinate a female flower 15 feet on the main with 350 sq ft behind it. About an hour after, we had a severe downpour. It flooded the garden and when i looked the flower was filled with water. I used a syringe to get the excess water out of the flower. What is the chance of this pollination taking.

7/23/2011 10:08:40 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

I hate to be the one to say this, but the chances are slim that the pollination will take if the flower was filled with water.
We seal the females with binder clips after pollination, and we make simple shade/rain structures over the females to protect them using a small piece of tarp, maybe 3 x 3 ft and a few bamboo sticks. If Rain is forecasted, I will put a plastic ziplock type sandwich bag over the female to protect it as well.

7/23/2011 10:16:12 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

I thought that was the most probable possibility. So if this one doesnt take. I will have to stick with my back-up which is one that is about 4 days old on the first side vine. The problem with that one is the only place it has to grow is over other vines. Any suggestions on what to do about the other vines.

7/23/2011 10:51:31 AM

Portsmouth, RI

I place a white styrofoam cup over the female before and after pollination and leave for a day after. The open flower keeps it on very well. It also works for male flowers too.

Remove the vine in the way if no other pollination possible.Not to much else you can do about it if they are rooted in already.

7/23/2011 12:22:56 PM

Ashby, MA

I use a small bamboo stick next to the styrofoam cup and use a rubber band around both the bamboo stick and cup. That keeps it in place even if it's windy out.

7/25/2011 8:33:07 PM