chalyse said:I normally collect pollen from all blooms first, to help ensure that there is no possible self-pollination to them, and then go back to them all to dab pollen next. But, I've noticed that after removing the pollen stamens......
I have never done this, or heard of anyone else removing all the stamens before pollenating. In the gardens of the large hybridizers, if they did this, there would not be time to pollenate the hundreds and hundreds of blooms they pollenate each morning.
Now, back to Jon's question...
Jon, as you can see most people pollenate in the morning. I think if you move the hours that you are pollenating to early morning, you should see an increase in pod set. Occasionally, I hear of someone who pollenated after they got home from work and they have some success, but it is the exception more than the rule.
Still, like others said, weather, and the individual plants fertility play a roll in getting a pod to set at all.
Another thought... Make sure the plants you are trying to set pods on are receiving adequate water. When we have dry summers, if we don't supplement water, pods won't form, or they abort.
