Last year I saved some pollen and placed it in the freezer. If I decide to use it this year how long does it need to be out of the freezer before applying to the lily? Can you place it back into the freezer for next year when you are finished? How long can you keep it out until its no good?

Just some info I have read... one hybridizer (don't recall name) opens the pollen container while still holding it inside the freezer, then removes the needed pollen with a toothpick. So the main container doesn't leave the freezer.

It just might be a good idea to follow suit...

I'm sure I read this either on the yahoo group or in one of the Quarterly Bulletins of NALS.

i remove the anther from the packet,then hold it and scrape the pollen onto the blade of a pocket knife..,you dont seem to get a lot of pollen!!,but enough!!.,i've just done some speciosum'angel rose' onto'tiger play'[out of season],..,-who knows???? it might work,.

Thanks for info

I read the same exact thing as Pard, but I can't remember where I read it. The hybridizer that was writing that said they only took out what was needed, without ever taking the packet out of the freezer. And then I assume they used it right away, as it was just on a toothpick. In fact, I think it was in response to my question about Japanese irises. Crossing pseudacorus Gubijin with a later blooming Japanese, and how to keep the pollen for the JI over winter.

Actually Polly, I had asked the question about freezing JI pollen, then on my behalf you asked on the JI yahoo Robin. There was a response, and also a response from J. Copeland published in last fall's Review.

For lily pollen, I have been removing the pollen from the anthers prior to freezing it. I always worry about mold forming at some step though I know that the freezing of the whole anther is commonly done.

I remove the pollen by placing the anther in a 1.5 milliliter microcentrifuge tube, closing the cap, then vibrating it with a back massager. It works pretty well. Then I remove the anther and seal the capsule back up.

I'll try doing this with JI pollen this year. They haven't started blooming yet, everything is just so late here. It doesn't look like I will have a lot of bloom this time around. And some of them I will need to move to a sunnier place, that should help.

Thanks Pard, glad you have a good memory, cause I sure don't anymore. .

that back massager sounds good!!especially now i am into winter