Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Test strips are notoriously inaccurate. I bought a $30 electronic ph test meter, and life has been easier ever since.

Could also be pollination on those zuc's

sorry Jayendra, What do you mean?

when to flowers are ripe ants get into the pollen etc.

Some cucurbits have that rotting based on not enough pollination

ok, is there a way to assist pollination?

By hand with a brush- I hand pollinate my tomatoes and strawberries all the time, it doesn't take long to do.

just checked out a pollinating video on youtube, I will give it go.

Or you pick the male flower, depetal, and gently open the female flower where you 'rub' the male parts on the female parts.

if its tomatoes you can get one of those electronic toothbrush to pollinate the flowers with.. simply turn on the brush an gently touch the flowers with it.. thats it..

if its watermellons.. pumpkin.. cucumber and etc.. you can use a cotton swab and dab the male flowers to collect pollen.
then brush it onto female flowers...
but Jayendra way works well too.

Jayendra's method works best set to this song.

Electric toothbrush? way OTT! regular unpowered brushes work perfectly well, as does the end of my finger!

LOL, I think the electric toothbrush is just to vibrate the pollen so it floats onto the female flower.

thanks Ronmaggi, that clip put me in the right mood for pollinating!

the Utube said to be careful not to damage the female flower parts, they actually only applied the pollen to the hairs on the female petals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpGGAjKjvuk

I wonder if the ants are effective pollinators or do they just steal all the pollen?

Is it just me or...

Anyway, I'm really impressed with your set up Sb and wish I could do the same with my Stoopid broken pool. Nice work, well done.

Probably time for photos though...

thanks Skeggley, my plants look a bit sad ATM, I think its either a K or Mg or both?

just bought 10L bulk pack of seasol concentrate.

As usual I went over board and set up two honey beehives they're fun and almost as busy as me. BBBBrian