Question
Hi, i just had a few more questions about the Flower.  Last time i emailed the flowers were closed i think but no they are both open and one of them is starting to drop pollen.  
http://www.terraforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93602
it shows basically all the pollination steps.  The parts i had questions with is, on the style that the pollen falls onto i put the pollen on the stigmas which are like little while things sticking out of the inside part of the style. Right?  This is my first time attempting to self and or pollinate flowers.  They are both on one plant.  Can i pollinate a flower with the pollen from the other flower if that one flower hasn't started dropping pollen?  (Hopefulley that makes sense:)  When will the seed pods be ready to collect?  I do plan on getting your e-book as soon as i get the money.  Only 13 have no money, at least right now.  Is everything on that website accurate?  Is there an easier way to pollinate the plant?  Thanks for your help.


Answer
Hi Dustin,

The information on the web page is accurate, so follow its instructions and you'll do fine. (The stigma is the little points on the style.  There are five stigmas per style.)

You can use the pollen from the same flower to self-pollinate that flower.  However, the viability and production rate of seeds will be lower than if you used the pollen from a different flower.  If you can get pollen from a different plant altogether, you will get a much higher rate of seed production and viability.

The stigmas are ready to receive pollen when the flower blooms and the stigams are sticky.  Since you can't always tell if a flower is ready to receive pollen, you should pollinate the stigmas everyday for 3-5 days after the flower opens.  

If your pollination is successful, you can harvest seeds in November.  The seeds are ready when the pod dries up on the stalk and splits open slightly.  Depending on your pollination technique, you can get a dozen to a several hundred seeds per pod.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin