RE: How do you tell when a female bud is about to open

Bill, thank you so very much for the "step-by-step" explanation!  I have
purchased three books on  growing Giant Pumpkins and not ONE of time
includes info that is as helpful as yours below!

I am new to growing Giant Pumpkins and need this type of "hand holding" and
this type of terrific step-by-step instructions.  Most of the books
interview growers and tell how each of them deal with different growing
issues, but none of the books I've purchased gave me as clear as message as
the one below. NOW, I finally feel like I might actually be able to
pollinate by hand correctly.  Thank you. Thank you!
Amelia in Iowa

**PS - I own two books by a gentleman that posts on this list. I hope he is
reading this note, because I think his books would help new growers more if
it included more step-by-step instructions!  Don't get me wrong, his books
have been helpful, but a newbie to this realm of growing needs LOTS OF
HELP.......


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net]On Behalf
Of WILLYRAIN@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 5:28 PM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: Re: How do you tell when a female bud is about to open


In a message dated 7/16/2003 9:28:12 AM Eastern Standard Time,
esue53@hotmail.com writes:

> I have a question, this is my first year at trying to grow giant pumpkins
> and I have been reading everything I can find on the subject.  But , now
> this may seem like a silly question to most , but how do you tell when a
> female bud is about to open so you can pollinate it by hand.
>
>

First of all the female bud is the one with the pumpkin behind the bud... If
it has a straight stem and the center looks like you are holding a finger up
in the middle of the bloom that is a male. (There will be no baby pumpkin
behind the flowrer)
When the Female turns to a flower and opens in the morning (usually beween 8
AM and 11 AM ) You grab several (3 or 4) of the male blooms, they are
usually
toward the center of the plant. I try to grab them from another plant if
available and write down the plant they came from along with the Female you
fertilized (Plus the date)
I peel just the outer, upper edges of the male flower off (It looks like a
shot glass) then turn them upside down over the center of the female flower.
Next I give them a couple taps with my finger to shake the pollen down that
is
loose in the flower.
After all the loose pollen is shaken into the bloom I peel the rest of the
edges of the blossem off and take the center of the male blossem (stamen)
and
gently wipe the pollen all around the center of the Female blossem. After
doing
this 3 or 4 times per blossem then I go have a cigarette and try to recover
to
do it again tomorrow.(LOL)
Good Luck
Bill Garvey
Michigan

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