Oh, that's very normal for cucurbits. They all seem to produce male flowers first, and then the female flowers come a week or two later. Yes, you will definitely have to hand pollinate indoors. Although I can't remember specifically on kiwanos (I grew them once, many years ago, outdoors, and they were wildly productive, but frankly, they really don't have much flavor, and are pretty much just good as garnish for dinnerparties), I'm sure they are much like other cucumbers and melons: The MALE flower will be on a longish and VERY THIN (like pencil lead) stalk (an inch or two) which protudes out of the leaf axil. The FEMALE flower will grow directly from the leaf axil, with a very noticeable young fruit attached at the base of the flower. In regular cucumbers, the fruit is about the size of a jelly bean or a good-n-plenty candy (can you tell it's almost lunch time as I write this?) when the blossom opens (depends a bit by the variety). It should be comparable in the kiwano in size. And, it will look all bumpy and spiky, just as the mature fruit will, just much, much smaller. You really shouldn't have any problem telling the difference once the plant starts producing female flowers. Dennis SE Michigan Where all it does is snow, snow, snow and stay below Zero degrees every night!

Do you mean how to extract the seeds, or how to grow them? To extract - you need so spoon the "gel" center of the fruit out, and rub the seeds gently against the mesh of a fine sieve. Try to rub as much of the "goo" and liquid through the sieve as possible. Then, carefully rinse them under running water, and spread the seeds out on a couple of paper towels to dry. They will stick to the paper towel -- to plant, I just tore off tiny pieces of paper towel, seeds and all, and planted that. The paper towel just rots away, sort of like seed tape. To grow them -- really easy. Just sow in rich, moist, warm soil, and treat them just like a cucumber. They are closely related to cucumbers and are virtually identical to a cucumber in terms of care, culture, habit, etc. The vines look like a cucumber, have the same spread, etc. The only difference is that you wait until they are fully ripe and yellow to harvest. IIRC, when young, the fruit tastes just like a cucumber and you can use them as such if you wish. It's been a number of years since I grew them.

Anyone had Orthosiphon Aristatus (Cat's Whiskers) plants for trade? Please take a look at my trade list- SEEDS: *Acalypha hispaniolae (Cat tails, Kitten's tails) *Agstache rugosa (Korean Mint) *Albizia julibrissin (Silk Tree, Mimosa Tree) *Alcea rosea 'Nigra' (Black antwerp Hollyhock) *Allium (Purple Tall Chives) *Allysum Carpet of Snow *Amaryllis Red *Angelonia *Annona squamosa (Sugar Apple, Sweetsop) *Antirhium majus 'Montega rose bicolor': *Ardisia squamulosa tree *Arrowroot- Red *Arum italicum *Asclepias currasavica (Orange and yellow butterfly weed) *Asclepias currasiva 'Silky Gold' *Asclepias tuberosa (Orange) *Asian Gummy melon *Astromeria Parrot Lily *Averrhoa Carambola (Belimbing, Star Fruit) *Baby's breath *Balsam Heirloom Impatiens - single/double flowers *Bauhinia purpurea (Pink Orchid Tree) *Belamcanda Candy Lily *Blanket flower *Bulbing Fennel *Butia capitata (Pindo/Wine/Jelly Palm) *Cactus Prickly Pear *Calamondin orange *Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry) *Camillia, pink *Canna seeds - mixed *Capsicum annuum 'Medusa' (Medusa Pepper Plant) *Cassia Alata *Capsicum 'Medusa' (Medusa Hot Pepper) *Cattail, Dwarf (Aquatic) *Centaurea cyanus (Bachelor buttons) *Cerinthe major purpurascens (Blue Honeywort) *Cherimoya/Atemoya *Chimonanthus praecom (Wintersweet Shrub) *Cichorum endivia 'Curly' *Clematis Autumn sweet *Clematis Nelly Moser' *Cleome hassleriana (Spider flower) *Cornus florida *Crotalaria spectabilis *Cypress Vine, White *Danish squash *Duranta erecta *Datura purple swirl *Datura, white with purple cast *Daucus carota (Wild Carrot) *Delphinium consolida (Giant Imperial Larkspur) *Dietes vegeta (African Iris, Butterfly Iris) *Dioscorea bulbifera (Air Potato Vine) *Echinacea (Pink Coneflower) *Echinacea Tennesee *Emilia javanica (Tassel Flower) *Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Ear Pod Tree, Elephantâs Ear, Monkey Ear) *Gaillardia x grandiflora (Indian Blanket) *Madagascar Jasmine vine *Gomphrena purple *Gourds, ornamental 'Small Autumn Wings' *Grapefruit *Guava *Gypsophila elegans (Baby's Breath 'Convent Garden') *Helianthus debilis (Beach sunflower) *Hibiscus cannabinus *Hibiscus sabdariffa (Florida Cranberry) *Hibiscus Texas Star, Red *Hollyhock, mixed, single *Honeydew melon *Honeysuckle (red-orange) *Ipomoea hederacea (Morning Glory lavender-pink) *Ipomoea quamoclit (Cypress Vine) *Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Flag Iris) *Jerusalem cherry *Koelreuteria Paniculata (Golden Rain Tree) *Kum Quat *Lagerstroemia indica 'Rosea' (Pink Crepe Myrtle) *Lantana mixed colors ­ seeds *Larkspur, Giant Imperial *lathyrus perennial blend *Lathyrus odoratus 'Ms Willmott' *Leucaena leucocephala (White Lead Tree) *Leonotis menthifolia (Lionâs Tail) *Liatris spicata (Gayfeather) *Lily Star Gazer *Lemon, yellow, thornless, very juicy *Liriope Muscari (Lily-turf ) *Lychnis calcydonica (Maltese cross) *Malva moschata (musk mallow) *Marigold, Tiger Eyes *Marigold, mixed *Medusa Hot Pepper *Melia azedarach (Chinaberry) *Merremia dissecta (Alamo Vine) *Merremia dissecta *Mexican Petunia, âChi Chiâ, pink, tall *Mexican Petunia, dwarf blue *Mexican Petunia, dwarf pink *Mexican Petunia, dwarf white Mirabilis jalapa (Four O'Clock)-different colors *Mimosa tree *Momordica charantia (Balsam Pear) *Moonflower, white *Morning Glory - Grandpa Ott, Heavenly Blue, Star of Yelta, Jamie Lynn,Rose Silk, Scarlet O Hara *Morning Glory - Ivy leaf *Morning Glory - tricolor *Morus alba - white mulberry *Mucuna Pruriens (Bengal Bean) *Musa Velutino Pink Fruiting Banana *Myosotis sylvatica (Forget-Me-Not) *Nerium oleander , pink *Olea europaeae (Olive Tree) *Optunia humifusa (Hardy Prickly Pear) *Orange fruit, Florida *Orange Trumpet Vine *Podranea ricasoliana (pink trumpet vine) *Papaver *Papaya 'Caribbean Red' *Perilla frutens (Shiso, red) *Periwinkle pink with white center *Periwinkle white with pink center *Phyllostachys pubescens (Mosso bamboo) *Platanus occidentalis (American Sycamore tree) *Pomegranate *Poppy (mixed) *Portulaca magic carpet mixed colors *Prunus spinosa *Pyracantha coccinea lalandi (Scarlet Firethorn) *Radermachera sinica (China Doll, Serpent Tree, Emerald Tree) *Redbud *Robina viscosa (Clammy locust) *Rosa Canina (Wild Rose) *Rhubarb *Sabal bermudana (Bermuda Fan Palm)* Sabal palmetto (Cabbage palmetto) *Sago Palm *Salvia coccinea âCoral Nymphâ *Salvia coccinea Hummingbird Sage *Salvia farinacea (Mealy Blue Sage) *Sapium sebiferum (Chinese Tallow, Popcorn Tree) *Senecio bicolor (Dusty Miller) *Senna alata candlesticks *Senna didymobotrya (Popcorn Cassia, Peanut Butter Cassia) *Sesbania panicea (Scarlet Wisteria) *Stachytarpheta urticifolia (Blue Porterweed *Stachys cretica *Sunflower mammoth *Sweet Pea *Sweet William *Talinum (Jewel of Opar) *Tecoma (Yellow Bells) *Tithonia (Mexican Torch) *Trumpet Vine, Orange *Trumpet Vine, pink *Urena Lobata (Caesarweed) *Withania somnifera 'Ashawaganda' (Indian Ginseng) *Zinnias, mixed More seeds - vegetable/fruits Angled loofah Apple, granny smity Bean, tricolor - gold, purple n green Cantaloupe 'vine peach Carrots- Big Top Danvers Half Long Chinese Greens- choy sum, sawi kangkong chinese chives gay lun gun choy Cucumber - Fuzzy gherkin Picollo di Parigi Honey Dew Royal Golden - fruit weights 10-15#, red sweet tender flesh Shark Fin (only 2 seeds) Swan lake Eggplant - Apple green Casper, white Chinese,Ping Tung Fennel - bulbing Trieste Smokey Bronze Gourds - 'crown of thorns', ornamental heirloom - birdhouse Autumn Wings, small, ornamental Long, black from India Maize, japonica Zea Mays, ornamental Black Aztec corn Melons- Asian Gummy Canoe Creek, green n orange, football shape, >20# wt charentais Chinese Winter Jenny Lind, heirloom cantaloupe, light green flesh, 1-2# wt Woman - Ukranian Heirloom, extremely sweet n fragrant, yellowish-white flesh, sz 7-10" (Gd for northern climate) mustard okra - Burgundy Green Lady, hybrid long horn Peppers, hot- Chinese chilly, hot Greek pepercini Scotch Bonnet Serrano Thai chilly, regular Serrano Thai chilly, purple Sweet Pepper- Alma Paprika Green pepper Pumpkin Chinese Pumpkin (From China) Small pumpkin- for pies Radish, red boy Rhubarb Rutabaga Salad greens- loose leaf red salad bowl big hoss butter lettuce red romaine Sorghum - Broomcorn White Popping Squash- Crookneck, yellow Danish Sphaghetti Winter squash Tomato - Cherry/grape Hess Pink Brandywine Speckled Roman, heirloom Tig Rovy Watermelon- 'moon n stars' Sweet Siberian PLANTS/CUTTINGS: Abelia Edward Goucher- cuttings Abelia Francis Mason- cuttings Acalypha hispaniolae (Cat tails, Kitten's tails)-plant Ajuga reptans 'Valfredda' Ajuga reptans 'Bronze Beauty' Allamanda schottii Bush, yellow - cuttings Aloe Vera American Agave (Century plant)-­ pup American Agave, variegated - pup Aptenia ice plant - cuttings Artimesia vulgaris 'Oriental Limelight' variegated Asperagus densiflorus "Sprengeri' - plant Calamondin orange - plant Callisia navicularis (Chain Plant) - cuttings Callisa repens (Bolivian Jew) - cuttings Canna Peach Gigantum rhizome Canna Florence Vaughn rhizome Canna Bengal Tiger Catalpa Soutern - cuttings Chickasaw Plum cuttings Chrysanthemums: yellow, violet Clereodendrum bungei Climbing Aloe -plant Conferate Jasmine - cuttings Cyclamen Cyperus involucratus (Umbrella Palm) - cuttings Cynotis somaliensis (Pussy Ears) - cuttings Delosperma cooperi (Hardy Yellow Ice Plant) Ice plant, purple Ice plant Aptenia Epipremnum pinnatum 'Aureum' (Pothos) Fig tree - sweet n juicy - rooted starts Gardenia - cuttings Gaura, white - plants Gaura, pink - plants Golden pothos - cuttings Heliconia Hanging Crab Claw Hibiscus Rose of Sharon 3-in-1 - plants/cuttings Hibiscus Rose of Sharon minerva, purple Hibiscus Rose Of Sharon, white cutting Hibiscus Rose of Sharon 'Blue Bird' cutting Iris yellow flag Japanese Boxwood - plant Jasmine shrub cuttings (from overseas with small white star-shaped, single-petaled fragrant flowers) Kalanchoe diagremontiana (Mother of Thousands) Kalanchoe fedschenkoi - plant Kalanchoe tubiflora (Chandelier Plant) - plant Lantana Camara (Lantana, mixed) Lantana creeping purple - cuttings Lemon, yellow- plant Lily, pink - plant Lily , white- plant Live Oak Seedlings Longanberry plant Lonicera sempervirens (Coral Honeysuckle) - cuttings Lonicera fragrantissima (Winter Honeysuckle) - cuttings Loropetalum (Chinese Fringe Tree) - cuttings Mexican Petunia - tall, Purple Mexican Petunia - tall, Pink Mexican Petunia - dwarf, purple Mexican Petunia - dwarf, Pink Mint, chocolate - plants Nephrolepis cordifolia (Southern Sword Fern) - plants Odontonema strictum. Red Firespike - plants or cuttings Oleander (have 4 types) - white, pink, yellow, red - cuttings Optunia ficus indica (Smooth Prickly Pear) pads Palm Pindo - seedlings Philodendron 'Brasil' cuttings Plumeria, white -cutting Podocarpus macrophyllus (Buddhist Pine) - cuttings Pyracantha Scarlet Firethorn - rooted starts/cuttings Rain Lily Pink - plants Rain Lily white - plants Rose cuttings - Almost Black Rose cuttings - Knockout, pink Rose cuttings - red climber -profuse bloomer Rose cuttings - shrub, huge blooms, pink - profuse bloomer Russelia equisetiformis (Firecracker Plant) - select either red or yellow Salvia Coral Nymph Salvia coccinea Hummingbird Sage Scilla Society Garlic Variegated Soceity Garlic Spider Plant - green Spider Plant, variegated Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Variegata' Trachelospermum jasminoides (Confederate Jasmine) cuttings Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart' Wandering Jew variegated cream and green - cuttings Wandering Jew Variegated green and white stripes - cuttings Wandering Jew Green with white flowers - cuttings Weigela, pink - cuttings Wisteria Purple -cuttings

My husband was in michigan this week and that was one of the flights he thought about taking on thursday night. He flies a lot and it just hit close to home. Clarence is not far from where we live. We are a little more out in the country. Big sigh of relief. When the news came on at 10pm they announced at the end of the broadcast that a plane had crashed by the airport, but they didn't know anything yet. By the time the 11pm news came on, it was not until after the weather that their news crews made it to the neighborhood and they announced it was a commercial plane. WIVB broadcast without commercial break until I went to bed at 2am. When my husband called to say he was alright i was so grateful. (wipes tears and sniffles) Fran, Could i have the blanket flower, please? BTW, DS#3 watered my keyboard once, its still a little iffy. We set it in from of the blower on the woodstove for a week. Just FYI those of you sowing in the keys LOL! Thank all of you for the prayers. Families here are esp. close knit and things like this are difficult for anyone. Praying for your FIL, too Nichol. Fleethart