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Grittyville, WA

I havent seen any anther splitting done before so I thought Id share.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=333071

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=333079

Maybe this is nothing new? Or maybe it will help...

Have a great year,
Brandon

7/23/2022 1:58:11 PM

Bethlehem CT

What would be the reason for this method? I don't think you mentioned why you did it this way.

7/23/2022 2:27:36 PM

Western NY

Yeah, I usually split the second male in half to get in the tight spaces easier.

7/23/2022 3:35:55 PM

Grittyville, WA

Sometimes the males are kinda bulbous or the females have parts that are hard to reach. It gives some sharper angles to work with and it makes the pollen "brush" more supple.

bigmoon, your question leads to many more questions than I cant answer, like does getting every little hard-to- reach surface covered really matter? And is it possible to rub too hard? (Presumably mimicking a fly or bee is whats best?)

On a more practical note, if you have only one male blossom, then sometimes its just hard not to bump the inside of the flower petal which knocks some the pollen off.

Its very easy to do the only slight concern is you might get a drop of nectar or plant juice when splitting them apart but other than the I found it to be unbelieveably easy.

I guess more than anything, Ive always been slightly unsatisfied with the usual method.

Anyhow... if his round peg isnt doing the job for your gal, split it in half. Ouch!

7/23/2022 3:53:58 PM

Syracuse, NY

Brandon - You go, man! I have to come up with ingenious ideas frequently to get beyond what is handed me as well to accomplish things more effectively and easily in all aspects of living - for instance, if I don't have a bamboo stake to position a vine, I'll use a rock with the AG's leaf put onto it and a rock on top of that - see??? Works just as well, too!---Later EG

7/23/2022 5:42:09 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I've always done the same as Andy. It just seems to work better for me.

Good stuff Gridiot.

7/23/2022 7:06:48 PM

Bethlehem CT

Does a fully pollinated fruit have benefits? i.e. go heavier at the scales etc., or is it just to make double sure that the pollination sticks?

7/24/2022 8:29:51 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Tom, the Dude, from Extreme Pumpkin Store had the pollinations down a while back. Scrape and fill, seems to work well.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=160272

7/24/2022 9:37:15 AM

Grittyville, WA

bigmoon, my bet would be yes, for example have you seen an apple with 4 out of 5 ovaries pollinated?

smallmouth, hadnt seen that before... people are so clever. I used to invert the male flowers over the females and flick them hard so the pollen would drop into the cracks.

And theres always this method lol:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=332624

7/24/2022 1:04:12 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Grid, I like that method you suggested too. That would really work well when short of male flowers and need the one to count.

7/24/2022 1:13:31 PM