From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Spring Lake, Michigan

Hi, just was wondering if anyone had any thoughts/suggestions on which female blossom to pollinate? Should I go with the first one or wait for later blossoms.
Thanks

6/22/2006 9:50:48 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Pollinate any and all...out over 10'...cull later! Peace, Wayne
ps...no telling which pollinations will result in set fruit!

6/22/2006 10:31:20 PM

Ohio

I agree with Wayne, Pollinate everything. Also dont cull to early after fruit set cause you might find out like I did last year that you now have no females in sight after the one you think is your keeper aborts. Sucks to have all this time in a plant over 700 sq ft that you ended up culling 5 or 6 females from in early July with not even a female the size of a marble starting yet.

Brooks

6/23/2006 5:11:30 AM

Spring Lake, Michigan

Great! Thanks for your responces.
What's the reason for not pollinating fruit within 10' of the base?

6/23/2006 5:16:42 PM

Syracuse, NY

most people believe that the fruit will be too close to the main stump resulting in excessive stem stress or possible pulling of the stump or similar, but i had a 575 in
'04 that was SEVEN feet from the stump and i had no complaints or problems at all, on my 950.4 Boyton plant.

also, it enabled me to have a pollination as early as
July 1st, a new 'earliest pollination' personal best for me-
EG

6/23/2006 5:58:33 PM

Hudsonville, Michigan (michiganpumpkins@sbcglobal.net)

Tom:
Ideally, you'd want something about 15 ft from the crown of the plant. Pollinate everything that opens, then see what happens. Measure circumference daily and keep the fastest grower. Though you may have to cull some fruit inside 10 ft to allow the 'juice' out to the real growers further out. Under 10 ft will top out under 600 lbs (usually)
Frank
By the way, the Michigan patch tour will be July 22 in othe GR area...

6/26/2006 8:51:32 AM

Syracuse, NY

hmmmmm, that would coincide with my 575, now, wouldn't it?

well, you learn something new every day on BP.com! thanks--eric g

6/26/2006 6:29:25 PM