----- Original Message -----
From:
p*@yahoo.com
Can I keep JI pollen all year long from July to
June in the freezer? And if so, any hints on how to do that?
Hi Polly,
I've kept pollen from JIs (and others) in the
freezer for later use. Done properly, and if the power doesn't go out for too
long, pollen can remain viable for up to 3 years.
I use the black film canisters to store the
anthers after air drying out of the sun for about a day. In with the dried
anthers I pop a small desiccant capsule (available from your local pharmacy)
and label the container. From there all canisters go into a ziplock bag and
into the coldest part of the freezer.
Using the pollen is a snap. I use a small soft
paint brush to pick up the pollen from the inside of the canister. It shows up
well against the black sides. The real trick is to use the pollen and
get the rest back into the freezer as soon as possible.
Good luck,
Christy
z4b
Newport, WA
