Remember the song Morning Side of the Mountain by Donny and Marie?
There was a girl, there was a boy
If they had met they might have found a world of joy
But he lived on the morning side of the mountain
And she lived on the twilight side of the hill
This calls to mind my loofah plants.
There was a female flower.
She blooms singly.
There was a male flower.
He has buddies to hang out with.
She bloomed first (and died within an evening).
He bloomed 3 days later (and died within the evening).
Two more male flowers bloomed, but no female was in sight.
Then another him, that died all alone.
Then a her…
Are you starting to get the picture?
Almost 2 months and still no sign of pollination. I wish they’d get themselves in sync and meet halfway on the darned afternoon foothill! >:-(
© 2010 curiousgardener.com All rights reserved.
I’ve heard of some friends doing this, and you might want to try it: when the male flowers bloom, cut them off and store them in the fridge. So that when the female flowers open, you have ready (and hopefully preserved and useful) male flowers and pollen to do manual pollination on.
That’s an interesting idea, Sky. May try it if I see a female flower forming close on the heels of a male if I get too impatient. Thanks for the suggestion!