Pollinating Blueberry Flowers
1. Best to pollinate when the stigmas appear glossy/sticky. Usually 2 days after emasculation.
![](https://blueberry.cals.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/158/2023/09/E1-1.png)
2. Remove any open stage 5 flowers that were not emasculated to keep those from contaminating seed lot.
3. Obtain pollen vial from fridge.
4. Clean glass rod with 70% ETOH on a paper towel.
5. Put end of glass rod in open mouth and breath on it to get it moist.
6. Dip moistened end of rod in pollen vial.
![](https://blueberry.cals.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/158/2023/09/p2.png)
7. Gently dab pollen on all emasculated flower pistils.
![](https://blueberry.cals.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/158/2023/09/p3.png)
8. Keep count of how many you do.
![](https://blueberry.cals.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/158/2023/09/e4-1.png)
9. When done put pollen back in fridge and clean glass rod with ETOH.
10. Want to get 2-3 pollinations on each stigma in about a 4 day window. Need to pollinate everyday/every other day to get pollinations done.