Seed Saving + Pollination

I've got some OP Organic seeds, Pumpkin, Cantalope, Watermelon, etc. I'd like to save some seeds for next yr. These questions may have been answered in previous yrs.

1. When covering the flowers to prevent cross pollination, should I cover both the male and female flowers?

I will look for the thread on me hand pollinating these, I know there is a thread on doing that.

2. In the ANSFG book, it says plant the above plants 1 per 2 sq ft. In a 2 x 8 bed, can I plant 8 plants on the 8 ft side (1 ft apart) and they can have the other sq. on the other side if they want it?

Jo

This is what I did: it worked for my watermelon and pumpkin plants. I puts the roots in one of the squares and then layed the vine in a trench leading to the second square and my trellis. This helps two promote a great root base for the plants. Good luck with the seed saving. I have not tried that yet.

Pollination: As soon as flowers arrive, bag them to isolate from insects. Sometimes you can't tell which are male and female until they form that bulb (the females). The males and females don't always blossom at the same time. When you are sure of your females, remove all the bags but those that you want to isolate. As soon as a male blossoms, remove the petals and brush the stamen over the female flowers. You can use the same male for all the females at that time so you are sure they are all pollinated and will form fruit for your kitchen, but be sure to put the isolation bag back over the first females again. Don't remove the bag until a fruit starts to form, not just the bulbous end of the female blossom. You don't want a stray bee bringing in pollen from another variety. When a fruit forms, the bag can be removed and the fruit tagged in some way so you remember which one to ripen and from which to save your seeds for next year. Voila, you've saved your seeds and they'll breed true.

I can't help you with the trellising, I'm sorry.

Thanks so much for the info on how to pollinate.

I'm wishing to I guess, push the envelope. I just don't know if 1 per 2 sq ft means, 2 ft in each direction, or if they only get 2 squares, period. I have a fence on the 8ft side to give them a trellis.

While looking on the web I found this interesting info on cantalopes.

Cucumbers, squash, pumpkin and watermelon have separate male and female flowers. Cantaloupe (muskmelon) has two flower types, male flowers and complete flowers (having both male and female parts). Cantaloupe flowers have a pollination window of one day. Pollen must be transferred from the male flower to the female flower on this day for seed set and fruit development. Fruit size and shape are related to the number of seeds set. Poorly pollinated flowers either abort or produce misshapen fruit.

Jo

Great question I was wondering if you bag male flowers myself.