Question about planting and pollination of squash, cukes, and melons

[zita]

Hi newbie here, with a question. Can you plant squash, cucumbers and melons close together if you are not planning on saving seed? Will that affect the current seasons fruit? Thanks for your help. Zita

 

[hoodat]

None of those will cross polinate so your seed should be OK.

 

[lesa]

Yes, you can have them all close together.... Just remember good airflow is crucial- so not "too" close together! Happy Gardening!

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you are not planning on saving the seeds, you can safely plant any variety of those together. Squash will not cross-pollinate with melons or cucumbers. Melons will not cross-pollinate with cucumbers.

Different varieties of squash will cross-pollinate with certain other things. Different varieties of melons will cross-pollinate with each other, though watermelon will not cross-pollinate with muskmelon. Different varieties of cucumbers will cross-pollinate with other cucumbers. That still does not matter if you are not saving the seeds. Cross-pollination will not affect the flavor, size, or production of this year's crop. You can plant different varieties of squash together if you want to, for example. It will not matter to this year's crop.

This article has a chart that does a real good job of explaining what will cross-pollinate if you want to save seeds, but that is totally irrelevent to you if you are not saving seeds.

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/87-043.htm#Watermelon and Cucumber

 

[zita]

Thank you all so much for your kind and knowledgeable answers. I have been enjoying all of the info here even though I don't post much.

 

[hoodat]

Don't hesitate to ask questions. good questions are informative to all of us.