From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Israel

Can I cut a male flower today to use his pollen tomorrow or possibly in two days time. How long can a cut male flower renmain 'good to use'....THANK YOU SO MUCH. 1 pumpkin set :-)

3/28/2018 6:32:34 AM

Lexington, Ky

Yes. Need it tomorrow, cut it late in the evening, store indoors. Need it in two days, cut late in the evening, store in the refrigerator.

3/28/2018 6:44:48 AM

Central Illinois

as long as it hasn't opened yet.

3/28/2018 9:12:37 AM

Central NY

Good luck!

3/28/2018 9:19:16 AM

Israel

Thanks ! I have netted the female and one male is open and full of pollen. I'll cut now the male (early evening and store the flower in the fridge) Again thanks

3/28/2018 9:45:51 AM

Lexington, Ky

Ideally, you would want to cut and remove a male that's going to open to same day. As baitman suggested, as long as it hasn't opened yet. This is important. If your male flower opened this morning, outdoors, attached to your plant, the pollen may already be compromised.

If you have a different male that looks like it's going to open in the morning, cut it and take it inside.

3/28/2018 1:04:16 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Yeah you need to cut an save the male before it is open. If it is kept cool in the fridge, you can delay it opening. Then I take it out place it in a glass of luke warm water, and show it the sun in a window. If I need it quicker I hit it with a bright light and a hair dryer set on low

3/28/2018 1:20:09 PM

Syracuse, NY

another thing to do is bag both of EVERYthing and that way, regardless of when either blooms, SOMETHING will be in-sync, but for a controlled cross, they ALL MUST be fully-protected from any pollen source or insects. i suggest a nylon mesh baggie used for wedding candies/party favors tied around the STEM of the female and on EACH of however many male(s) you intend to use---i will also use a styrofoam cup, even over the baggies, overnight on anything IN the patch to further prevent even a single grain from getting through (thanks, Glenomkins, a year ago); this past year i had males cut and kept and i pollinated at like 7PM, and lo and behold, it took! i wonder if that was my 1007 Brown X 2145...yup!
good luck----eg

3/28/2018 8:49:20 PM