Re: cross polination between squash ?
- To: v*@eskimo.com
- Subject: Re: cross polination between squash ?
- From: P*@aol.com
- Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 21:26:20 EDT
- Resent-Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 18:31:09 -0700
- Resent-From: veggie-list@eskimo.com
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In a message dated 7/21/99 12:23:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
penmancy@hotmail.com writes:
> In the spring, I planted zucchini seeds and spaghetti squash seeds, each in
> their own rows, about 3 1/2 feet apart, with many plants now growing
> productively. I definitely have zucchini growing on the zucchini plants,
and
>
> spaghetti squash on its own plants, but I'm now finding what look to be
> cross-bred vegetables growing on the spaghetti squash plant. While they
have
>
> the shape of the spaghetti squash, they have the exact coloration of the
> zucchini.
>
> I'm not sure if I've inadvertently created a science project ! Any light
> that can be shed on this would be appreciated. (The seeds obviously get
> planted far away from each other next year.)
The fruit characteristics are entirely determined by the mother plant. The
pollenizer (the "daddy") has NO effect on this season's fruit, other than to
provide good pollination, thus full development of the fruit.
If your spaghetti squash is not running true, it is not a problem in your
garden this year; it is rather a problem at the seed grower's site. Another
possibility is a virus infection. I know that yellow squash will turn green
or mottled green with some viruses. It won't hurt the fruit, or its eating
qualities, but, for farmers, makes the yellow squash unsaleable. Perhaps this
can happen to spaghetti squash. I don't know, it's just a thought.
And unless you are planning to save seed, don't worry about separating
squash. Your purposes as a fruit grower are different than the seed grower's,
and you want the best pollination possible.
Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green Hemingway, SC USA
The Pollination Scene: http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html
The Pollination Home Page: http://www.pollinator.com
Jan's Sweetness and Light Shop (Varietal Honeys and Beeswax Candles)
http://users.aol.com/SweetnessL/sweetlit.htm
