Hand-pollinating courgettes in the afternoon?

[ddiogyn]

Hallo,

Every article i've read on hand-pollinating courgettes says that it should be done at first light, with 9 to 10am being the latest time one should do it.

I have several male and female flowers i've identified as being ripe for opening tomorrow, but i won't be home to do the deed till the afternoon.

I've observed that courgette flowers don't begin to close till the early evening.

Does it really minimise the chances of success if pollination occurs later in the day? There's a dearth of pollinating insects around here, so i'd like to do everything possible to help the process along.

Thanks!

[zazen999]

Why are you hand pollinating?

Is it to save the seeds?

[Caro]

Someone more knowledgeable will no doubt be along in a minute, but I'd say go for it. From what I understand, some say pollen is most potent at certain times of the day. I had heard early afternoon was the best time, but maybe it varies by plant. I don't believe it can make that much difference.

[zazen999]

The reason they say the morning is because if you are pollinating to save seed, and thus keep the 'other pollen' out of the female flower; so it is best to do so in the morning of the first day of the flower opening....but if you aren't saving it for seed then it won't matter one bit.

If you are saving it for seed, then you will have to isolate it anyway before it opens, and after it has been pollinated [pop a bag over it to stop any other insects getting in].

[ddiogyn]

@Zazen

Not for seeds, though i may do one for that purpose later and sellotape it up.

@Caro

Quite! Many texts recommend morning pollination, but don't explain why. I would expect the flowers to begin closing by late morning/early noon if it were the case that the pollen became past its best by this time.

[Caro]

Thanks Zazen,

Yet again you manage to make the mysterious understandable!

@ddiogyn - told you someone more knowledgeable would be along

[jackyspratty]

The reason they say the morning is because if you are pollinating to save seed, and thus keep the 'other pollen' out of the female flower; so it is best to do so in the morning of the first day of the flower opening....but if you aren't saving it for seed then it won't matter one bit.

If you are saving it for seed, then you will have to isolate it anyway before it opens, and after it has been pollinated [pop a bag over it to stop any other insects getting in].

Hi Zaz,
If you are seed saving, would a morning pollination matter that much? The male/female will have been bagged the night before anyway?
when doing the squashes, I bagged the night before, and had a couple of days when I couldnt get there til afternoon due to kids mainly! Des this mean Ive mucked it up?!

[zazen999]

Hi Zaz,
If you are seed saving, would a morning pollination matter that much? The male/female will have been bagged the night before anyway?
when doing the squashes, I bagged the night before, and had a couple of days when I couldnt get there til afternoon due to kids mainly! Des this mean Ive mucked it up?!

No, bagging means you don't have to get there first thing in the morning!

[Alison]

If you're not saving for seed then what's the need of self pollinating, I never do and always get more than I need.

[zazen999]

If you're not saving for seed then what's the need of self pollinating, I never do and always get more than I need.

Precisely.....

[ddiogyn]

If you're not saving for seed then what's the need of self pollinating, I never do and always get more than I need.

Lack of insects/want to leave nothing to chance/too much time on hands/neurotic first-time grower/OCD?

[ddiogyn]

The deed is done! I had three females but only a single male that were open, so i also used a one-day-old male from yesterday. The female i pollinated two days ago is swelling nicely, hope it carries to term

[Flummery]

They really do manage by themselves you know. I've never hand pollinated a courgette in my life!

[Alison]

I'm intending to do it for the first time this year but that's only cos I want to seed save.