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New Brunswick

I know that pumpkins and squash will cross when planted handy each other but will the cross be apparent in this years actual crop or does it just affect the seed for another year? My neighbour wants to plant small normal squash in the same garden plot as her a.g. pumpkins. Everyone I talked to has a different opinion on this.

6/3/2003 9:52:02 PM

Ontario

it will only affect the seeds for next year if they pollinate the AG. not sure if they would?
u should pollinate your AG yourself to prevent this.

6/3/2003 11:19:46 PM

Sequim, WA

AG's are cucurbita maxima, if the squash she is planting are maxima's as well, the potential for cross pollination exists. Hubbard, and banana are two varieties that are also c. maxima. If she is growing zucchini or acorn or spaghetti squash, these are all c. pepo. They will not cross pollinate with an AG. Some cross species pollinations are possible, c. moschata is one that is compatable with with some varietis of c. maxima if I remember right. Some will cross with c. pepo as well. I have a book that lists some of the potential cross species pollinations, it's not handy at the moment though. Other pumpkin varieties that are c. maxima and potential pollinators of AG's are Rouge vif d'etampes, (Cinderella,) and lumina. Maxima's have soft round stems and pepo's have woody 5 lobed stems. That's all I have for now, where did I put that book? It's "The Perfect Pumpkin" by Gail Damerow

6/4/2003 1:14:36 AM

Sequim, WA

Oh yeah, the cross only affects the next years seed. If you were desperate to pollinate your blooms and had no male flowers from an AG handy you could use a Hubbard or Cinderella to get the job done, just don't send me any of the seeds.

6/4/2003 1:17:03 AM

New Brunswick

Well thanks for answering my question. As I mentioned in my first post , it is my neighbour that wanted squash and pumpkin to share the same garden plot. I have two separate planting spots for mine. The A.G.'s are off by themselves and I have saved seeds with no crosses. I do polinate my blossoms myself...but....I have never actually covered up my female blossems before, so the bees probably had a hand in pollinating. This year I am going to watch closely and see if I can't "catch" the blossoms before they open and slip something over them. What do most of you do at pollinating time? It does seem strange that pollinating a pumpkin blossom this year with say for instance a squash, would actually produce a normal pumpkin. But I will tell my friend she can plant them together but not to save any seeds. Thanks again

6/6/2003 9:46:26 PM