Seed Saving: Hand Pollination of Melons and Squash 

@mrdonaldscott I may get more detail from Mike later. My take is that the tape closes the female to make sure that no other pollen gets to it. The string is to locate the flowers that have been selected for pollinating the day before, based on experience with flowers being ready.

I chose Bark watermelon, Sweet Siberian and finally Cream of Saskatchewan. Short season smaller varieties suitable to our Canadian summers. Cantaloupes, I chose Cershownski this year. GL in the garden this summer. Butternut and acorn

Thanks so much for your expertise. I have been able to grow just about everything else BUT food. I have one beautiful vine that is a white variety that I acquired from a local farmer. I have very limited space, so I am growing in a container. I will post later if I get any fruit. I have a lot of flowers! Wish me luck!!

For cantaloupe, trying to pollinate if hard because the males aren't as large even when you remove the petals...how do you do it?

very good

@MLUIMedia This from Mike, who is featured in the video: "The male and female blossoms need to be taped to prevent contamination from pollen that you don't want to pollinating the female blossom. The male blossom needs tp be taped because it can visited by insects with foreign pollen on them thus risking the possibility of mixing pollen. Yes, the string is for identification purposes only, and in my garden family members can help themselves but must not take any I have strings on.

When do you tape the flowers? How do you know when to do it?

Verona was developed by Mississippi state in the sixties

which type of varieties does we cross??

can we cross an already cross f1 variety??