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Garner, NC

What's the secret here!! My 3 market vines are all a good 12' in either direction with tons of males and alot of females but I am having a terrible time getting any of them to set. I have very little to no bee,s, maybe it's the chickens, So all has been done by hand in the early morning. This morning I took the potted flowers from the porch down to the patch in order to attract some bees, will see. Should I stop fertiling until a melon is set or just keep doing things as planned? Or are the first 6 or 8 females on each plant inferior? Thanks and keep it cool!

5/28/2010 9:23:27 AM

South East

Kick it down a knotch on N when before, and during pollination, when it sets, go on with what you want to do.

5/28/2010 11:43:59 AM

Corryton, TN

I generally pollinate melons 9-10 am. Lots of pollen at that time. I use a small artist paint brush. Bees here are working clover and wild flowers. Haven't seen any in melon patch.

5/28/2010 4:56:56 PM

sevierville, Tn

Is there pollen on the males your using?? If you touch the male you should see pollen on your finger. Maybe your too early as brotherdave said. 9-10am is a good time. If there are few bees, you need to help them or you won't get a good set.

5/29/2010 12:57:09 PM

formerly RGG

I think on a plant that size it's about time to set some melons. Sure the first few may be inferior but you have passed that already & it's time to start getting some set on so you can in a few weeks begin selecting the one which will make the final cut.

5/29/2010 7:31:57 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Not looking good here on my fair melons. Never here when they are blooming. Plants are huge now but we did get 3 pollinated Saturday on the 179.9 plant. We hit them for 1 hr from 8:30 -9:30 am. The 255 inside has very few females and looks like a shutout this weekend unless one is hiding for tomorrow.

5/30/2010 10:33:58 AM

Frankfort Oh

I agree with brotherdave-if its to early the pollin is wet,between the hours of 9and 10 the pollin is dry-and your melons will take better-you might just want to let the bees do it for you-another trick to getting bees to your patch is take some yellow cardboard ,cut in 6x6 squares ,a bright yellow ,mounted to a stick ,and put by each plant ,this has helped me in the past ,good luck!!

5/30/2010 10:47:55 PM

Garner, NC

Thanks for all the advice. After putting the potted flowers in the pacth, I have noticed more bee activity. Also later in the day has helped me the most in pollinating by hand, now I can see the pollen, which I wasn't seeing early in the day. I currently have a few set in each of the market plants hopefully soon there will only be one.

5/31/2010 9:04:09 AM