Worldwide Beekeeping

Worldwide Beekeeping Resource Library => Honey, Bee Forage; Nectar & Pollen Sources => Topic started by: Perry on October 08, 2017, 05:34:54 pm

Title: Pumpkin pollination.
Post by: Perry on October 08, 2017, 05:34:54 pm
Finally remembered how to download pics (I forgot how) with my new phone. I took these a few weeks ago when pumpkin was still in blossom.
Bees took to it like crazy.


(https://s1.postimg.cc/7x1ar8j5qz/IMG_20170926_132315621.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/7x1ar8j5qz/)

(https://s1.postimg.cc/8lukb986rv/IMG_20170926_132324610.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/8lukb986rv/)

(https://s1.postimg.cc/6cbjrrplgr/IMG_20170926_132337875.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/6cbjrrplgr/)

(https://s1.postimg.cc/3dz9o9iekb/IMG_20170926_132345574.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/3dz9o9iekb/)
Title: Re: Pumpkin pollination.
Post by: Jen on October 08, 2017, 05:56:57 pm
Sweet! You've seen pics of the bank behind my house, one of those neighbors would throw pumpkins and squash over the fence in the fall, and they would break and roll down the bank. So the next spring pumpkin/squash plants would take root and bloom. My bees loved it!
Title: Re: Pumpkin pollination.
Post by: tedh on October 08, 2017, 09:07:51 pm
I had some pumpkin planted, looked at a bloom one day and there was a honey bee in there almost completely covered in pollen.  She almost looked yellow! I thought there would be no way she could fly wiith all the extra weight, went in to get my phone for a pic and she was gone.  Blew me away.
Title: Re: Pumpkin pollination.
Post by: Green bee on October 09, 2017, 12:06:27 pm
 I never have grown pumpkins before. Hope there not like squash, pick squash one day and the next day there’s aleast two or three that weigh 2lb each l :yes:. I had two plants one time and ended up with more squash than I knew what to do with. Nice pics Perry!
Title: Re: Pumpkin pollination.
Post by: Lburou on October 09, 2017, 12:23:30 pm
Sweet! You've seen pics of the bank behind my house, one of those neighbors would throw pumpkins and squash over the fence in the fall, and they would break and roll down the bank. So the next spring pumpkin/squash plants would take root and bloom. My bees loved it!
Small Hive Beetles love it too.  SHB can raise a round of larva in those pumpkins, and squash and melons... :yes:
Title: Re: Pumpkin pollination.
Post by: Jen on October 09, 2017, 02:53:02 pm
Hey Lee, can that count as SHB prevention of sorts?  ;) 8)
Title: Re: Pumpkin pollination.
Post by: Lburou on October 09, 2017, 09:51:03 pm
Hey Lee, can that count as SHB prevention of sorts?  ;) 8)
Yes, if you murder that plant material before SHB can use it to reproduce.  :)
Title: Re: Pumpkin pollination.
Post by: Bakersdozen on October 10, 2017, 06:44:43 am
Pumpkins and squash average 10 staminate flowers per each pistillate flower.  It has been found that the honey bee is the most efficient pollinator.  Honey bees are found to work the flowers in the morning, before the heat of the day,
and the flowers wither.  This information is based up Insect Pollination of Cultivated Crop Plants by S.E. McGregor.
Title: Re: Pumpkin pollination.
Post by: Newbee on October 24, 2017, 10:54:10 pm
At the local Beeks meeting tonight the presenter was talking about nutrition, and pollen sources, and had a slide showing protein content of various plants... and apparently pumpkins are pretty high! If I recall correctly, something like 23%? Made me want to plant some pumpkins next year!

- K