From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Ray, North Dakota

I am going on vacation tomorrow for four days, and I will have pumpkin flowers opening up in two to three days. If I pry open the female for earlier pollination, will it take or will the fruit be too immature? Drop me an email or reply here. herbie@polarcomm.com

7/19/2007 12:40:05 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

noooo...come on this is common biology. Pollen is only Viable for a short period. The Female is only receptive to fertilization for like 4 hours.

7/19/2007 1:13:47 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

There is a theory that pollen can be stored at extreme cold (absolute zero?) for long term preservation. I know someone who used liquid Nitrogen to freeze some pollen. I don't think he ever tried the viability.

7/19/2007 1:17:27 PM

Eugene, OR

If you figure out how to store anything at absolute zero, you'll be famous for a lot more than pollen storage!

7/19/2007 1:25:18 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Herbie,
If you're not concerned about making a controlled crosses, you can let the bees do it...hopefully you have a good bee population. Otherwise, you may have to train someone in to do controlled pollinations for you.

7/19/2007 1:25:53 PM

Ray, North Dakota

That is not what I asked, but Shannon sorta answered it.

The flowers are 1-3 days from opening. And, according to Shannon, the female will not receive pollen until she is open.

I'll have to have my neighbor make my crosses when I'm away, unless one opens tomorrow morning. Hopefully.

Thanks again guys, I appreciate it.

My one plant pollinated has a double main and I have a pumpkin pollinated on each vine. 1217 Whittier x 1355.5 Marion and 1217 Whittier x 967 Kurilich. Only one wins....

7/19/2007 1:26:15 PM

Ray, North Dakota

I want to control my crosses. I think that 1355.5 Marion will make a good father. So my crosses HOPEFULLY will be 576 Foss x 1355, 1217 Whittier x 1355, 976 Kurilich x 1355, and I am not sure what to pollinate the 1355.5 with.

My 576 Foss is way behind, and in the poorest soil in the garden, and will only be for genetics production. Never know, I may be surprised.

7/19/2007 2:26:40 PM

Ray, North Dakota

Also, it seems my male flowers are in short supply this year. That is why to two I have pollinated on the 1217 Whittier are by the 1355 and the 967.

Two main vines, one pollinated on each. Like I said, only one wins.

7/19/2007 2:27:56 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

No, you can't pollintae them early, it won't take. I'd try to find a friend who could help out. If you can't I'd just let the bees do it. A pumpkin without good seeds is better than no seeds or pumpkins.

7/19/2007 8:28:27 PM