Re: AG THOUGHTS what else
- To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: AG THOUGHTS what else
- From: S* C*
- Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 00:07:02 -0800 (PST)
Contained in Olivier Puffet's latest missive was:
> How do you cover the flower to avoid bees-fertilization. Do you put
> something around the flower, a bag or something like that.
I go out the night before pollinating, choose the blossoms I
will use, both male and female, and tape them shut with
masking tape. In the morning I cut off the male flowers,
and take them to the female flowers I will be using and cut
off the masking tape, quickly fertilize the female blossom,
then tape it shut with more masking tape. I also tie a
(large) brightly colored string around the stem of the
female blossom so I will know later that it was one I hand-
pollinated.
This method came out of the excellent book "Seed to Seed"
written by Suzanne Ashworth, and published by the Seed Savers
Exchange. It has lots of photos and detailed instructions
for saving pure seeds of lots of vegetables, not just cucurbits.
I highly recommend it.
> On a plant do you have to fertilize two or more females or only one,
You should pollinate several as you can't be sure which ones
which ones will take and which won't. Also, even females
that take may abort for no apparent reason until they reach
about beach-ball size. It is good to have several pumpkins
to choose from at culling time so you can pick the one that
is most vigorous, in the best position and location, etc.
If you are going to name your pumpkin I would suggest doing
it AFTER you cull. :-)
Shaun
--
"The easiest way to deal with a Word attachment in email is to delete it."
--BAPper
polaris@wolfenet.com ++ PGP email welcome
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