North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Hilborn.E@epamail.epa.gov]

I have a small pome orchard with poor fruit set last year.  I had lots of blooms, so I am suspecting poor pollination. I plan to hand pollinate this year and wonder about the timing.

 

If I collect pollen, when is the best time to apply it to the pistils?  When blooms are open and the stamens of the flower are yellow; the blooms are open and the stamens are brown; the petals are starting to brown; the petals are falling?

 

Any ideas?

 

Betsy Hilborn

7a, NC