Re: HYB: Pollen storage -- fridge or freeze?

In a message dated 5/8/01 8:26:41 PM Mountain Daylight Time, 
patriciabrooks@coupeville.net writes:

<< HYB pro's:
 
 I've begun to take pollen from these early-bloomers (SDBs and early 
 TBs) to make crosses with on later-blooming TBs; and in reviewing my 
 i-t notes on pollen storage, some say hold in the refrigerator, some 
 say the freezer.  Both, I gather, should then be 'heated' to puff up 
 the pollen by blowing on them.  Anybody want to line up on one side 
 or the other in this mini-poll? >>

Nope -- because I've found that different techniques are best for different 
purposes.

I start by storing the harvested pollen in open containers at room 
temperature, because it needs to be dried before going into storage.  This 
has proven more effective for fresh flowers.  

Once dried, pollen that is to be saved only a few weeks for use later in the 
season goes into the refrigerator.  In condiment cups, so it doesn't absorb 
moisture.  

Pollen that is to be saved for the next year goes in the freezer.  Still in 
condiment cups, but with the cups sealed in Tupperware.

Yes, I've gone so far as to transfer leftover pollen from the refrigerator to 
the freezer at the end of the season and used it successfully in later years. 
 

Sharon McAllister

 

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