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1st yr grower, It's rained 1/2 inch 2 times last week and now there does not seem to be pollen on the male flowers. New flowers are coming but the stamen's are very hard and lack pollen that I am able to get off with a small brush?? It's also very hot here in N.C. Any ideas?? Thanks

7/1/2005 3:44:53 PM

milford, CT,

Maybe this will work! I remote pollinated all my pumpkins from another growers males.When I opened the first flower I saw the same as you. Tremor gave me an idea that worked very well. Cut off some flowers that are going to open the next morning and put them in water in the fridge. 1 1/2 hours before you are going to pollinate place the flowers without petals (in a metal can filled with water) on the door of your oven(not inside). Turn the oven on to warm and let them warm up for the hour and a half. The males I did this to swelled up with pollen and so far all 5 pumpkins set that were pollinated this way. Hope this helps.

7/1/2005 9:44:23 PM

Syracuse, NY

ps, and not to negate anyone else's advice, but if you just put the flowers indoors under a plastic container, say,
one of the ones you could store blankets or your kids' toys in, see-through, in cups of water, they will bloom just fine without any additional effort, no heating or cooling, and the pollen quantity will be just fine as well....eric

7/7/2005 6:43:15 PM

Thanks guys, I'll try both tecs. The weather has gotten so hot here 90's and up that I'll be lucky to get a set on anything, but I've got 2 possibilities left to try to pollinate. I'll try shading after I cross and put ice bottles next to the females covered with styrofoam cups. Thanks again Carl

7/12/2005 2:36:27 PM