Dry the anther?

[travis]

Making crosses trumps making fruit as far as I'm concerned. So I never give it a second thought whether I'm harvesting pollen by tapping blossoms and leaving them intact or taking the entire blossom off the cluster and using the blossom itself as an applicator. I've never plucked anther cones or blooms, dried them and harvested the pollen from the dried anther cones.

[Frog]

I have used several methods, this season gone I tried a new method (for me) first I emasculated the female, then I removed the entire anther cone, in one piece, from the male and slotted it over the exposed style on the emasulated flower, effectively transplanting the anther cone entirely, I then just left the flower to get on with it in its own time. This way there was no need to dry the anther.

[OkieJason]

Frog,

What was percentage of success using the "anther cone transplant method" ?
I'm having trouble getting enough pollen and its always windy here. This technic might work better for me as long you don't damage the style during the transplant.

[heirloomdaddy]

I'm on travis' program. I find that when the anther cone is making contact with the glass, or in my case teaspoon, the pollen comes out in a more concentrated pile or line. I've been using my electric tooth brush but will try the tapping.....the key is anther contact with surface for me.

[heirloomdaddy]

to add one more thing- I was removing donor anthers and drying them at first. To me, it is a complete waste of time. With an electric toobrush and anther contact with the surface of your choosing, it takes literally 3 seconds to get enough pollen to impregnate about 10 recipient flowers.