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Valley Falls, Kansas

Well I am pretty sure that my first (2) attempts at pollinating did not work out so well flowers are nasty smelling and brown and mushy. Here are the things I think I did wrong after researching a little bit more, any info or opinions would be great.

1- Only used old pantyhose no other protection from moisture.

2- did not shade from sun or rain that was coming (got over 90deg. and 1/4" of rain later in the day when I pollinated grrrr)

So plan of action for the next ladies is forget the pantyhose just tie the flower shut and then put a zip lock baggie over the flower along with a lawn chair to help protect from the sun and rain along with possibly adding a couple frozen 2 liter bottles if it looks like the temp is going to get up into the upper 80's again.....

6/28/2008 4:05:44 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

The Ziploc bag will get very hot in the sun.

Panty hose are fine if you also cover with something dry & COOL.

Try a white Styrofoam cup.

6/28/2008 6:46:42 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

I agree with Tremor, also you ice idea is very good. Temps here are up in the 90's and that is the only way I get one to set.

6/28/2008 10:55:18 PM

Valley Falls, Kansas

Thanks for the replys, is there a way to keep the cups on the flowers good?

6/28/2008 11:47:36 PM

Ohio

Yea, Tie a 3/4 inch chain around the cup, then put a cindar block on top of the cup, then get some plywood and 4x4's and build you a 12 ft wall to put infront of the female as a wind protector, and if you want insurance, pull your car down into the patch and park it right behind the wall you just built for a double wind breaker, this should keep the wind from blowing the cup off.

No really,, just stick the cup over the flower, it wont go anywhere, Al Eaton pollinated that way for years

6/29/2008 7:20:01 AM

Ohio

Or,, another way to keep the cup on is to go buy some steel cable, (about 5inch). attach the cable to three sides of the top of the cup, then run the cables down to the ground on opposite sides), then get some concrete and eye hooks and cement the eye hooks into the ground about 3 foot (5ft is better). Tie your cables off to your eye hooks and then your good to go.

6/29/2008 7:32:26 AM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Brooks, I just use Gorilla Glue, saves a lot of time and money on construction costs and that dang cup ain't going nowhere! lol

6/29/2008 8:09:34 AM

Valley Falls, Kansas

ha ha i get it, im being to serious, thanks for the help and reality check.

6/29/2008 8:48:58 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I have been tying the female shut then putting a lawn chair over the whole thing, and a cinder block on the seat of the chair so the wind can't blow it away. Adding a couple of 3/4 filled 2 liter bottles of water, frozen, next to the female can help too (as we get persistent 90's and triple digits)

6/29/2008 2:11:25 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I have been tying the female shut then putting a lawn chair over the whole thing, and a cinder block on the seat of the chair so the wind can't blow it away. Adding a couple of 3/4 filled 2 liter bottles of water, frozen, next to the female can help too (as we get persistent 90's and triple digits)

6/29/2008 2:11:26 PM

Ohio

Im just kidding with ya Silent, and thanks for taking it so good and not taking it the wrong way.

Brooks

6/29/2008 7:21:44 PM

Somers, CT

What do you do with the panty hose? Hopefully nothing with the cinder block and chain.

6/29/2008 7:48:17 PM

Valley Falls, Kansas

No prob Brooks, seriously though thanks for the reality check, I tend to try and make things more like work when they are suppposed to be fun, I just need to kick back and relax and let these giants do there own thing this first year, then next year I will go with 1 or 2 and give them evrything they need.

6/30/2008 9:42:32 AM