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Midwest

How do you protect the female and male flowers from bees while you are pollinating? I had a sure closed pollination last year at the best position on the vine but it was spoiled because a bee flew into the female when I was about to pollinate it. I want to know how to keep those flying critters away for just 5 minutes! Thanks!

6/22/2006 2:49:28 PM

San Jose [email protected]

the only SURE way is to do it before day light, many have to do it that way because of work schedules, you can't tell the bees to take a 5 min break

6/22/2006 4:55:37 PM

ordinary,VA

i agree the earlier the better.
have your male flower ready to go.
keep your your female covered up to the second your ready to pollinate.

6/22/2006 5:25:18 PM

[email protected]

I agree. Work with males harvested the day before & kept in a vase overnight. Be out in the patch before the bees. Cover with a nylon stocking & duct tape. The stocking may be tight so a Styrofoam cup might be helpful to prevent injuring mama.

6/22/2006 6:04:05 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

So I take it that one covers mama with the cup then puts the nylons over the cup to keep out the unwanted pollenators and duct tapes the openings of the nylons.........Brillant! Is this what the LaRues also do with their cups???

6/23/2006 8:56:48 AM

Washington

The LaRue's, (us)just put a cup over both male and female flowers the night before. The flower opens enough to keep out any insects. After pollinating, around 9-10 am (too cool earlier)the cup goes back onto the female. We don't have a lot of bee activity during pollination time but still don't want to chance a bee polluting the male pollen or adding to the female. Cups are simple to use. Sherry

6/24/2006 11:11:05 AM

Pumpkintown, SC

Uh, let's remember, the bee only makes up a percentage of the possible pollinations(or "spoiled" closed pollinations) that take place out there. The often forgotten "breeze" has spoiled its share of supposed closed pollinations. BF

6/25/2006 9:49:42 AM

Mocksville, NC

True Brian!!!
And thank you Sherry, The flower does expand and seals the inside of the cup i know i got a side face full of dirt just to look! lol Really!

6/26/2006 2:45:57 PM