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Ca

How long do I need to keep Ice by a pollinated fruit to keep it cool? It's going to be in the 100's this week. Last year I put frozen milk jugs by my fruits for 24 hours. At what temps do I need to use Ice. I do it at 95 degrees plus. Anyone have a good method or technique for keeping the fruits cool?

6/20/2006 12:45:51 AM

San Diego

turken, anything over 90 and I ice in san diego. Over 100 degrees and I use extreme measures if I "need" a successful polination. I use a small styrofoam cooler that costs like a 1.99, I first off lay a white trash bag under my fruit, then I stick a small frozen water bottle by the fruit and then place the styrofoam cooler upside down over the fruit with the lid off so it seals with the white trash bag. The trash bag kind of sticks out a few inches around the cooler eadge. Then I buy chopped ice and put a bag of the ice around the edges of the cooler. The ice slowly melts and I put more ice around the cooler every 3 hours or so until 4pm or so. I take the cooler off after 7pm on super hot days. A lot of work, extreme, yes, but it works 100% of the time for me.

6/20/2006 12:55:24 AM

San Diego

I forgot to mention that after all of this is set up, I put a shade cloth over the entire cooler area to keep it shaded too.

6/20/2006 12:56:38 AM

Ca

Ok, thanks for the info Duster. I will set up some sort of cover for the fruit and Ice tomarrow. I have a few old coolers that I will try to use. I finally have one 950.4 Boyton male flower that is going to bloom tomarrow or in two days and I have a 861 fruit that should bloom tomarrow. Hopefully they will bloom the same day, because that's the cross I want over any other with the 861. So a successful pollination is a must.

6/20/2006 1:11:24 AM

Sacramento, CA

What is with the ice treatments?? What is the danger without the ice? Should I quit my job once the plants have fruit?

Ok, that was a joke. But seriously, does th fruit explode without ice in California?

6/20/2006 1:44:50 AM

Rhode Island

EMMA,

POLLINATIONS ARE A CRITICAL TIME FOR OUR HOBBY.
YOU USUALLY ONLY GET TWO OR THREE SHOTS AT POLLINATING ON THE MAIN VINE BEFORE YOUR "TARGET" TIME HAS PASSED.

THE YOUNG POLLINATION WILL NOT BLOW UP THE DAY ITS POLLINATED RATHER, IT WILL ABORT OR "NOT EXCEPT THE GRAINS OF MALE POLLEN DUE TO THE 90 DEGREE PLUS TEMPS.

THE ICE AND FAN THAT WE USE IS LIKE AN INSURANCE POLICY WHICH ALLOWS US THE BEST POSSIBLE CONDITION FOR SUCCESS DURING EXCESSIVELY HOT OR HUMID DAYS.

6/20/2006 5:05:48 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

This is what is so cool about this hobby!! Duster I plan on using your method. I was going to use the ice bottles but your method seems to parallel with all the other tricks that Ive learned from all the masters out there. Thanks for your help.

6/20/2006 10:37:14 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

And Emma thanks for the laugh.

6/20/2006 10:38:10 AM

Chico, Ca

I build large boxes around the blossoms with 1" styrofoam board used as house insulation. it comes in 4x8 sheets. I make square or triangle walls.. mine have a hinged lid to make changing out ice bottles easier. I stick a dial thermometer in the side to monitor the inside temp...it does not take that much ice.

6/21/2006 1:22:35 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

How many days does one keep applying the A/C to the young ones???

6/21/2006 1:40:11 PM

Chico, Ca

2-3 days here

6/22/2006 1:11:26 PM