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Re: Female cucumbers

In a message dated 98-03-19 04:16:51 EST, you write:

<< 
     Stand still in your blooming cucumber patch on a nice day at mid morning.
 If you can't spot 50 bees/minute  (of any kind) moving to a flower, you need
 to augment the bee supply.
  >>
Thanks for the info.  I do have lots of bees here,   and get better
pollination than at my last house.  While I havent counted the bees,   they
are ubiquitous outside.  The avocado orchard across the canyon has boxes that
I can see from my yard.  Whether that is where my bees are coming from,  I
dont know.  I also get a few visits from what I think are native bees,  or at
least not european honey bees.  I'm not that far from the chapparral here.
(frost-free so calif)   It is a pleasure to see them all work.  

When you speak of 'wild bees'  are you referring to native bees, or european
bees that are wild?

Now about the cukes.  If I grow my old straight 8's outside,  I should leave
them alone and let the bees do their work,  as I've always done.  

If I were to grow the newer gynoecious parthenocarpic varieties outside,  I
should cover them to prevent the bees from doing their work.  And it is only
the older monoecous varieties, that can produce fruit without pollintation,
that require the male flowers to be removed so seeds wont develop?

I think I'm going to have to order some of that seed and give it a try. 

Back to bees:
<<Some of these
are exotic pests, as the varroa in honeybees. This came from Asia, to afflict
the European bees which have no resistance.>>

Is this that mite which I've heard about?

Thank you all for all the information,  Janet.
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