From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Richmond, BC, Canada

How many days???

5/29/2024 2:56:23 PM

night before use next morning

5/30/2024 7:54:49 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Due to growing only 1-2 plants a year, I have experimented with this due to limited flower availability and agree with Don. Not saying 2 days cannot work, or maybe freeze, but I have only had luck with the night before. I also wait as late as I can before cutting.

5/30/2024 8:11:17 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Fly on down Dave, I have some pollen waiting for you!;)

5/31/2024 4:13:44 PM

Richmond, BC, Canada

I'm on my way Chris !! lol

6/1/2024 11:55:47 AM

San Diego

I stored a flower in my fridge and got pollination 2 days after picking it once. Not a guarantee for sure, but it is possible.

6/2/2024 10:39:30 PM

Colorado

I'm guessing the closer you can store it just above freezing you might get success with 2nd day pollen.

[Last edit: 06/03/24 1:17:39 PM]

6/3/2024 1:16:44 PM

Saegertown Pa.

You can get three to four days storing them in a refrigerator

6/3/2024 2:29:30 PM

Brandon,WI.

Give Jim Ford a shoutout, i think he might give you alittle info / success on that subject.

6/3/2024 8:00:50 PM

Richmond, BC, Canada

We'll never know ! The 2 day old males were much nicer than the new ones so I used old and new....stay tuned.

6/4/2024 7:24:33 PM

Kutztown, PA

In looking at the anatomy of a pollen grain they are all basically the same. They have several different components that would no doubt rupture if frozen and would be subject to damage if they were to dried out in the fridge. I don't know how long they would be viable in perfect conditions, but I'm sure perfect conditions would need to be met, i.e. temp, humidity, and maybe even oxygen concentrations, etc. before they could be expected to last any longer than they might when subjected to ambient outdoor conditions. We already know for sure heat can be a fertilization factor. I'm also thinking since the primary reason for refrigeration is to delay decomposition do to bacteria, that a cold "sterile' environment is better than just a cold environment. Of course this is all just "Science according to Garwolf", and may in fact be specious, but it sounds good and it's sincere. :)

[Last edit: 06/05/24 9:07:18 AM]

6/5/2024 9:05:06 AM

Grittyville, WA

Some kinds of pollen can dry out and be viable but pumpkin pollen isnt one of them, btw its huge under a microscope compared to other kinds... Id guesstimate that a grain of pumpkin pollen is 100x the size of a grain of clover pollen...? (Clover is a fairly standard size pollen grain compared to pumpkin pollen.) Odd info tidbits... Probably because it has to grow such a long distance down into the ovary.

[Last edit: 06/05/24 12:12:18 PM]

6/5/2024 12:10:21 PM

Kutztown, PA

Gritty,

It seems like even the driest of pollen would have to have a little moisture to grease the wheels of activity. Are there dryer pollens that can be held for a long time before use?

6/5/2024 2:27:28 PM