From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Gold Hill, Oregon

how do the pros do it? which way is the best way to pollinate cantaloupes by bees or doing it yourself (like pumpkins)?

2/13/2011 12:40:05 AM

Alaska

Hand pollinate.

2/13/2011 1:15:25 AM

Corryton, TN

If you only have one plant, let the bees do it. If multiple plants are involved, and you want to save the seeds, hand pollinate. I use a small paint brush (art). Pollen isn't available until mid morning.

2/15/2011 9:17:29 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

brotherdave...lopes, like melons open later in the a.m. than pkns? All info appreciated!!! Peace, Wayne
BPD, with the explosion of Lope growers, and melons too, I am tryin to figure out how to do controlled pollinations, like the AG folks have been doing for several years!!! This is how the AG crowd made it explode!!! Melon and Lope folks need to follow suit!!! JMHO!! Peace, Wayne

2/26/2011 2:55:14 AM

Corryton, TN

They'll open early. The pollen doesn't release until mid morning.
I use a sandwich size zip lock bag and open it around the flower and use a couple of skewers to pin the open end to the ground. When its time, I pull the males from the plant, gently but firmly remove the petals and then I use a small artists paint brush to transfer the pollen. Size 1,3 or 5 with fine soft hair work well. Try to get just the pollen and not the nectar, it will wick up into the brush. It just makes the pollen a little more difficult to transfer. I use one brush per male plant then wash the brush for the next day. You'll have plenty of males to practice with before the females start to show up.

2/26/2011 7:51:37 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Thanks brotherD, does it need to be a Camel hair paint brush...used to hear that a lot!!! LOL Peace, Wayne
PS...I certainly think that the growth of this Lope thing depends upon controlled crosses!!! AG's did it!!! & Mr. Kent stressed it w/ the continued growth of Melons!!! Again....thanks!!!
PS...dave, do you cover the male flowers?

2/26/2011 2:36:11 PM

Corryton, TN

Absolutely!!!! cover them.

I'm not an artist. I don't know what they are made of, but they are soft

2/26/2011 5:59:13 PM