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Alabama

I have been pollinating my pumpkins for two weeks and cant get one to pollinate I had this problem late in the season last year I was wondering if anyone knew what the problem was? I thought that it might be to hot but other people in the south don't seem to be having the problem and thought some one might be able to help me thanks

7/17/2011 12:43:28 AM

Cincinnati,OH

I use a small cheap styrofoam cooler and 2 ice packs on any pollinations done on a day above 89 degrees.
I set the ice packs on the ground at least 2" away from the pumpkin and then set the cooler over the top of it.
you may have to trim the leaf off depending on its size.
You could have a sterile plant but the chances of having more than 1 are very low.

7/17/2011 6:30:37 PM

sevierville, Tn

Got to do the ice if the sun is out. Cause if it shining, its hot !

7/18/2011 3:21:37 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Using ice is definitely the way to go. You also might want to check your nitrogen levels in the soil. To much nitro will definitely cause pollinations to fail.

7/25/2011 8:11:31 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

We were in the 100’s last week too, and I wasn’t pollinating any AGs, but was other varieties. Many aborted, but I did the following for one ghost kin I really wanted to take. I placed a chair over it, then put 1 layer of sheets over the chair to cover all 4 openings on the chair to the ground. I then placed 2, two-liter bottles of frozen water next to the fruit (about 2 inches away, maybe more) at about 615am. I also came home at lunch everyday around noon and switched out those 2 bottles for 2 more frozen ones as they were already thawed out. I then did it again around 430. I did it everyday for the last 7 days and it has taken. I also moved the sheets to be open a little opposite the sun of course for ventilation as the bottles throw out a bunch of moisture as they thaw.

7/25/2011 9:29:12 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

you can fill small soda bottles with water and freeze them the night before to use in the cooling process just don't fill them all the way, or they'll pop about 3/4 full should do it, and don't let them come in contact with any parts of the plant!

7/25/2011 10:58:35 AM