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curcurbits crossing

To chris P Kling:

There are a number of different households (species) of children
(varieties) running around in the curcurbita neighborhood (genus) and if
you set it up right in the begining you can grow one child from each
household and not cross up the whole curcurbit neighborhood.

For squash you can grow 1 child (variety) from the maxima household
(species) - Atlantic Giant, banana, buttercup, hubbard, turnban, etc. 

And 1 mixta -  white or green stripped cushaw, wild Seroria, etc. 

And 1 moschata - butternut, cheese, golden cushaw, etc. 

And 1 pepo - acorn, crooked neck, zucchini, etc.

ALSO:  1 watermelon (C. citrullus vulgaris)  and 1 melon (C. cucumis melo)
and 1 cucumber (C. cucumis sativus) and 1 smooth luffa (aegyptiaca) and 1
angled luffa - etc., etc.

So to answer your question go ahead and grow a single variety of muskmelon
(or cantaloupe, same household) one watermelon, one cucumber and then one
from each of the four major squash groups.  This will give you seven
different varities each from a different household, without there being any
possible chance of cross pollination.  There simply is no way to get a
pumpkin with sweet, juicey, red flesh that you can pickle and eat with your
corn beef sandwich for breakfast.

I know it sounds a lot like botany, but if you are attempting grow and keep
pure seed for an heirloom variety, or breed a new variety of monster
squash, knowing the family taxonomy of your varieties is critical.  

Good luck and good eating Chris,

Playing For Keeps,  Michael
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