Checking Pollen Still Works

[justicebzwieg]

Stored pollen loses viability unevenly, so before dusting a prized female with year old freezer pollen it is sensible to test it. A pinch on a single lower bud of a spare plant will show swollen calyxes within a week if the pollen is alive. Lab style checks using a drop of sugar water under a cheap microscope are also described on https://breederregularseeds.com for anyone who wants an answer in hours rather than days. Dead pollen wastes an entire flowering window, so the test is worth the bother.