[wicked]

Ok, I'm expecting some ribbing here, but I'm gonna ask anyway 

My pumpkin flowers are all wrong... the female ones opened, but there were no male ones open at the time (and no bees around either), there are now some male ones ready (full of pollen), and some female flowers developing again.....

The question is:  Can I use my paintbrush on the male pollen, store it in an egg cup or something, until my female flowers are ready, and then hand pollinate?

I never realised the flowers only last a day or two before they start withering away! 

[Springlands]

Not a daft question - I  have the same problem and look forward to the answers 

[DD.]

Try this:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5831444_store-pollen.html

[JayG]

This might not be much consolation but as long as you don't tell anyone I can reveal that I have wondered the same thing!

I guess we've all experienced the problem at some stage, particularly with few plants of any one species; I don't think it's easy to preserve pollen in a domestic situation but I believe its viability can be preserved a bit longer by keeping it dry and in the fridge.

Definitely no guarantees, but when push comes to shove.............................

[Springlands]

Thanks DD - another crazy question. Has anyone ever had a plant which only produced male flowers. I have three courgettes and one of these has only produced males flowers so far. Dread the answers to this 

[aelf]

pollen should stay viable for a while (depending on species and method of storage). some tree pollens can stay viable for years out in the wild. I would, on balance, say that you could store it in a dry container in the fridge for a least a week, possibly a lot longer longer. No harm trying - you have nothing to loose   Let us know how you get on - I am interested in the results.

[mumofstig]

Thanks DD - another crazy question. Has anyone ever had a plant which only produced male flowers. I have three courgettes and one of these has only produced males flowers so far. Dread the answers to this 

They often start off this way but usually sort them selves out and  fruit as normal

[Springlands]

Thanks DD - another crazy question. Has anyone ever had a plant which only produced male flowers. I have three courgettes and one of these has only produced males flowers so far. Dread the answers to this 

They often start off this way but usually sort them selves out and  fruit as normal

Just have to try to maintain the gardeners patient waiting again!! Thank you 

[pink aubergine]

I think that a lot of the courgettes and squashes and similar related veg dont need pollination. May sound mad I know, and I dont know how it works. However I read somewhere when you get loads of male flowers and not many females, just pinch out all the males. Once you start doing it the females get the idea and produce  loads and you dont have to carry on doing .

A couple of years ago I had an early crop of broad beans in the polytunnel before any bees were out for the year, also a row of peas put under insect netting to stop the pesky maggot had plenty of flowers which all produced peas.

So my only suggestion is they are bred somehow not to need pollination!

[mumofstig]

Peas are self pollinating..........every flower is pollinated by itself...clever stuff.........french beans are the same but runners need pollinating.........it's a weird old game

Sorry, but courgettes and squash deffinitely do need pollinating though. Sometimes the plants start with all male flowers but they usually settle down and produce both in time.