From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Aloha, Oregon

Hey all ive decide to do all open polenations this year as I am a first year grower all of you now might not want my seeds but thats not my problem you never know I could be the next record holder.Speaking of that im begging for anyone to send me the 1469 checkon seed I only want 1 to 2 seeds please e-mail me at joghorselover@comcast.net.
Thanks,
Jordan

12/31/2005 12:41:34 PM

Norton, MA

Why all open? Do you grow that many plants? At least conveniently self them all. AleX Noel.

12/31/2005 1:54:57 PM

Spanish Ontario

Jordan QUIT BEGGING if you do maybe someone will send you one

12/31/2005 3:10:07 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

LOL, this has become comical...

12/31/2005 3:43:30 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Timing is everything. I'm sure the greater growing community takes comfort knowing that the covetted 1469 will be treated like a common field pumpkin. LOL

12/31/2005 4:59:10 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

Are you serious Jordan ? You should listen to the pros on this website ! You won't get the top seeds from the top growers unless you prove to them that your's serious ! Good luck in your quest !!!
GeoD

12/31/2005 5:20:18 PM

Aloha, Oregon

So I should do selfing?open?or crosses?
I will stop my begging,Sorry to everyone."Check my post titled (Im Sorry Everyone)"
The-Next-Biggie
"Jordan"

12/31/2005 5:53:01 PM

Norton, MA

I'd make some crosses, if nothing else randomly, and some selfs, but positively seal the flowers before and after and mark which fruit is which cross. AleX Noel.

12/31/2005 6:35:11 PM

Dallas, Oregon

jordan if you decide to experiment with making some crosses please remember to cover males also. this does not mean putting a dixie cup over the top. bees are quite able to still climb right in. i think even alot of experienced growers make this mistake. try sealing with a zip lock right up to the stem.

12/31/2005 7:05:22 PM

Simi valley, ca

I use paint strainer 1 gal size , It coveres it fine & you can tuck it into ground or sprinkel dirt over so bees cant get in,, but if you got any sprinklers comeing on , ya need not to let any water get in female flower,, ps if you do pollenation during heat be prepared before hand to know how to do it,

12/31/2005 10:44:22 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

Just a side note here about pollinating and covering the blooms...it's not so much the bees we need to keep out as much as it is the "foreign" pollen grain. Although bees account for much pollinating, the wind is just as "fertile". With this in mind and considering the size of this pollen grain, cover the flowers accordingly, BF

1/1/2006 1:47:56 AM

Ontario, Canada.

So I should do selfing? open? or crosses?

Well Jordan, I had several splitters last year so what do I know, but this is what happens in my patches. IMHO open pollinatons serve no purpose. I try to set at least 3 fruit per plant. I like to have 1 or 2 on the main vine with the keeper crosses. I cull the main vine straggler anytime after Day 10 depending on the long range weather forecast. If rain or warmer temperatures are expected the secondary main vine shock absorber fruit might last a few more days. I often will set a fruit on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd side vines at about 10' out that is selfed. If growth on the main vine is too slow, I quickly remove the side vine fruit. If the plant keeps cranking along I usually wait a bit and prune out that side vine section between D20 to D30 leaving only a few leaves to mature the seeds inside.

1/1/2006 8:26:31 AM

Mt Vernon Ky

ask, listen and learn

1/1/2006 10:24:18 AM

Aloha, Oregon

Well all Happy New Year.The reason why I would have all open is because im having troubles finding a place close by me for me to keep an eye out on the pollinations as much as I would love to create diffrent crosses I just cant.Ive found many places That I could plant pumpkins but all of them are to far to go to every day and the only thing the people would probly do for me is water.
I have a question for basketcase were do you live you have space I can grow?Im located in Aloha its in the Beaverton area.Let me know please thanks.
--Happy New Year--
Thanks,
The-Next-Biggie
"Jordan"

1/1/2006 7:57:04 PM

Syracuse, NY

thank you basketcase!
you have said what i have always wanted to.
there are other pollinating insects that can get right in there when the flowers are merely "covered" overnight;
my method of choice might be overkill, but the females
are, how you say, zipped up tight in these little mesh
bags i got a couple years ago, like a little drawstring bag made out of the same stuff like the little bags of candy
they have at weddings, and the males, well, i cut off about
3-5 of them per pollination attempt and they are stored in cups of water, overnight, under a 75-quart or so plastic
storage container, like from Sterilite plastics you see at a Kmart or Wal-Mart. storage bin, yeah! i put a heavy object on top of that----everything is labeled, tagged,
bar-coded and DNA tested for authenticity, too. naahh,
but my point is there somewhere, lol.....eric

1/2/2006 1:55:22 AM

maine USA

Along with basketcases comment, I watched a bee chew through the side of a snapdragon flower in order to get inside, so I would not trust a dixie cup alone.

1/2/2006 12:11:05 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

and cucumber beetles have been known to play a role in pollinating of curcibits ! Basketcase has a good idea ! How about the old fine mesh stainor my grandma used to make applesauce ?

1/2/2006 2:17:34 PM

Western NY

why not do it the easy way? pick them the night before, and bring them in the house. i don't keep bees in my house.

males from each plant gets their own labeled vase.

1/2/2006 3:23:44 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I'm with Andy on the males. I always own a shelf of the refrigerator during the firste week of July.

Cups are laughable but I've seen people using them.

Nylon stockings are small enough & I haven't seen a bee chew through one....yet.

1/2/2006 4:05:58 PM

Berlin,mi.(zuhlke2@hotmail.com)

knee high nylons work great for me. along with a rubber band to keep it tight to the stem. 3 pair for $1.00 at the dollar store. i use them on both male and female.

1/2/2006 5:04:43 PM

Indiana

ditto Mr Zuhike

1/2/2006 5:08:20 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Make your significant other happy and suggest you go shoe shopping sometime this winter, I suggest doing this after the super bowl, canadian grower after before the winter olympics begin, while shopping for shoes scarf all those little footsie nylons they have for trying shoes on. Your significant other will be very happy with you, you'll get pumpkin supplies.

1/2/2006 7:29:46 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Biggie, what was the original pollination plan?

1/2/2006 7:33:03 PM

Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Jordan, earn your stripes and then puff your chest!

1/7/2006 11:31:31 PM

Plymouth,ma

it seems it would be a mistake to open pollinate a 1469. if you dont have growing space, and or the ability to tend to your plants, then taking a chance with a world record seed would be silly. i have a checkon 1469, and i have no interest in wasting it. i would suggest learning and practicing w/ a lesser seed.

1/8/2006 6:55:53 PM