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Fort Edward, New York

How do you pollinate plants. I'm fairly new to this sport, but due to retirement, I have alot of time on my hands. How do you know which flowers are male and which are female? Help!!

6/25/2003 10:09:43 AM

Herb, I just replied to your same question in the other message. Oh well, I copied it into here for you. .....



Hurb - i'm assuming you know the difference between male and female flowers. If not, here's a link with pics.
http://www.giantpumpkin.com/pollination.html?

Anywho, you just take the anther from the male and rub it, along with the yellow pollen, on the stigma from the female. Some people use a paint brush, etc. to transfer the pollen. If you want to control genetics, you'll have to protect the males and females from being exposed to insects before and after pollination by tying them shut or covering with a baggie, etc. Ideas for that are in the "general discussion" message board, in the message "female flowers" that I posted. Hope that helps.

6/25/2003 12:14:16 PM

Ok, basically, the female flowers have a little ball underneath the flower bud about marble size, give or take. That little ball is what turns into the pumpkin. The males, on the other hand, just have the flower bud, with a plain stem underneath them. Check out the link for pics of the parts of the flowers.

6/25/2003 12:16:32 PM