... growing and hybridizing all kinds of plants in zone 6b Maryland since the 1980's.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Another squash cross

Another squash cross in the makings... first a picture of the female flower ('Long Island Cheese') taped shut the evening before it would open. Second three male flowers ('Neck Pumpkin') also taped shut the evening before they would open. Both of these varieties are Cucurbita moschata.
Third a picture of the flowers torn open the next morning as I'm actually doing the cross. You can just apply the pollen from the column in the center of the male flower (left foreground) directly onto the stigma in the center of the female flower (center of picture). Then gently tape the female back shut. And try to work fast, because this flower was only open for a few minutes and a squash bee still flew into it while I took the picture. So I guess it won't be a completely controlled cross .
I'll take a picture of the developing fruit later.



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