Comments on The Green Phone Booth: In a world full of men.

@Crunchy - My husband was less than enthused when ...

2009-07-24T09:43:36.936-07:00

@Crunchy - My husband was less than enthused when he read this post.

@Sadge - You're right! I do tie them shut after the deed has been done. Forgot to mention that in my post. Thanks!

@Green Bean - Congratulations! I am having the opposite problem now. All vaginas - no penises!

Okay, I just need to confess that I used your, ahe...

2009-07-20T04:21:12.086-07:00

Okay, I just need to confess that I used your, ahem, methods, last week with my Armenian cucumber. And, um, I think she might be pregnant!

hilarious!! All this veggie porn is making me s...

2009-07-15T21:43:32.313-07:00

hilarious!!

All this veggie porn is making me steamy...

If you're pimping your squash for seed-saving ...

2009-07-13T21:43:42.059-07:00

If you're pimping your squash for seed-saving purposes, it's best to tape the female blossom closed afterwards. Someone could still fly in and cross-pollinate the little sluts.

I usually do it like Crunchy Chicken. I just wish...

2009-07-13T16:43:47.876-07:00

I usually do it like Crunchy Chicken. I just wish I had anything to pollinate this year. So far its a total bust. We haven't had the warmth and way too much rain.

I noticed this year that planting tomatillos really brings in the pollinators. I have bees and butterflies all over them. As a result, everything is getting pollinated nicely.

Got it! I always intend to plant my squashes apar...

2009-07-13T13:37:43.721-07:00

Got it! I always intend to plant my squashes apart from each other for seed saving purposes and then lose my will power and tuck just one more variety in here or there.

I do have a gazillion bees in my garden but they are little gigolos. I interplant heavily with borage, bee balm, zinnias and cosmos - for looks (I'm in the front yard) and get a little action on the side for my pumpkins. I will say, though, that the bees could not be less interested in my watermelon or cucumbers. May have to do a little coaxing, a la EnviroRambo.

I'd be out doing the same thing if anything de...

2009-07-13T13:26:14.323-07:00

I'd be out doing the same thing if anything decides to blossom around here, but so far this year, no luck.

I like how you've snapped off the male appendage to do the pollinating. I usually just get the pollen on my fingers and pretend I'm a bee.

I would love to see the reaction of any human male of your mating technique :)

Okay, I seem to be experiencing some technical dif...

2009-07-13T12:03:11.812-07:00

Okay, I seem to be experiencing some technical difficulties. You will have to copy and paste to access the links. Sorry!

http://forums.organicgardening.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2241078301/m/6311004901

http://eatclosetohome.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/male-and-female-squash-blossom-pictures/

2009-07-13T12:00:47.311-07:00

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Green Bean - I would much rather let nature take i...

2009-07-13T11:57:28.031-07:00

Green Bean - I would much rather let nature take its course, but last year my crop failed, this year I can count the number of bees I have seen on half a hand, and I have several varieties planted close together. Don't want my spaghetti squash tasting like pumpkin and so forth. They will be whores and hop beds if you let them. It's better for seed saving if I can keep them chaste.

Green Resolutions & Heather - I couldn't tell one from another either until I did some internet research. These links really helped me:

Basically a male flower has a straight stem. A female flower has a slight bulge directly below the flower. That is the actual squash/pumpkin/whatever it may be waiting to develop. If it does not get pollinated the female flower withers and dies. You only have 1 day to do it. Early morning is best, sometimes they have already closed by afternoon.

Great pictures. Like GR, I now know what to look f...

2009-07-13T10:46:57.441-07:00

Great pictures. Like GR, I now know what to look for. I've been having serious pollination problems and this might just be it. No females (or males). I'll keep trying!

Thanks!

You're brilliant. I've heard this describe...

2009-07-13T08:29:11.743-07:00

You're brilliant. I've heard this described but never knew how to tell male from female until I saw your pictures. Thank you :) But seriously 7 a.m.?

Risque, indeed!! Interesting that you hand pollin...

2009-07-13T08:10:47.912-07:00

Risque, indeed!!

Interesting that you hand pollinate. Do you always or just for all of us voyeurs? I usually leave the bees to do the dirty work. ;-)