From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Jericho Vermont

How quickly will an average LG grow once a pollination has been made. I have had a heck of the time with getting a pollination to take. Just wondering on average what I should see after one week. Thanks. John

7/28/2006 1:40:49 PM

Montoursville, PA

First you look up and see a fuzzy soft elongation about the size of a finger. You turn around, take a leak and look back again to see it expanding (in a day or two)Long leak. :) The next thirty days it all is going to happen that will happen. They cure best hanging, in the tree. Actually curing is a longer deal. The best quality seed come out, in the spring after complete curing, in the gourd.

7/28/2006 3:38:53 PM

Jericho Vermont

Doc. Should I see a measurable difference in 7 days and if so what should I expect?
Thanks. John

BTW these are the seeds I got from you this yr and pollinated great.

7/28/2006 7:00:41 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

I think you will see the results in a day or two! Aborts start brwning at the tip pretty quickly. Are you pollinating in the evening? Since they are night blooming, pollen might not be there or viable come morning, though blossoms are still open. Give me a shout if you've got any questions John.

7/28/2006 8:22:46 PM

Jericho Vermont

Thanks Bob. I am pollinating in the evening. Just growth seems very slow the first couple of days. I need to start terminating some of the mess of vines (that may help growth) LOL. I will keep high altitude pollinating and hope for a success. Thanks again. John

7/29/2006 7:58:36 AM

West Amwell, NJ

This is my first year growing long gourds. I've always heard that they are hard to naturally pollinate because of the flowers coming out in the evening. I ended up with MANY pollinated gourds. I was wondering what was pollinating them; so I went out at night and found humming bird moths zipping from flower to flower. I grow quite a bit of Datura in my front yard, which also flowers at night, and many nights I've found humming bird moths at the Datura flowers. I'm starting to realize that all the years of having Datura in the front yard may be paying off for natural long gourd pollination. If you can attract humming bird moths in your yard, you can get long gourds to pollinate easily.

7/31/2006 11:17:15 AM

Montoursville, PA

John...........I grew my 98" winner last year by simply keeping the main vine clear of all growth including male and female flowers. When it got to the top of my water tower I aimed it at an apple tree. It did it's own thing from there on out.........except that I pruned out fruit to the three largest at any given day. The sixth or seventh one coming from helter skelter jungle above was the magic number. I made no effort to pollinate and sorta suspect those that claim they do are jerking my chain.

7/31/2006 2:36:56 PM

Montoursville, PA

John........mine grew as much as ten inches a day at the height, of the growing curve. I knew I was, in possible world class size so I hung a brick, on the bottom, of the gourd. That did nothing that I am aware of. It did make an interesting evening as the peanut galery tossed other suggestions....some, of which, I may not print here. :)

This year I could not get one growing for love nor money until it was to late.

7/31/2006 2:41:26 PM

Jericho Vermont

Thanks dwayne. I think I may have one or two pollinated, but first 5 or 6 days seems very slow. I have heard that they will mature in 30-40 days, so I am hoping these will hurry up a tad. I am trying to terminate as much new as I can, but I am not great with hanging from a ladder in different positions to do this. LOL Kinda fun anyways. I would just be happy with something in the 5 foot range if possible. I will post pics if I see any growth. Thanks for the advice. John

7/31/2006 8:35:18 PM

Salmon Arm, BC

Sunflower, I have seen the hummingbirds here also in the evening. I have one vine that got caught under the eave of our shed and the field fencing we put up there, and is turning into a big twisted pile of nested vine with no escape, but the other one is growing up the maple tree! We have murders of crows around here so at least they won't go hungry! lol Deb:)

7/31/2006 9:55:39 PM