Cross Pollination

[bp fick]

I realize there are those who speak of seed banks, seed storage, etc for political reasons. I will leave that totally alone.

THIS is what I would do, were I concerned about seeds. Go Buy Some!! They will keep. They have successfully germinated seeds from the ancient pyramids and such.

The problems associated with seed cross pollination, loss of vigor in the second generation, etc are too big O' pain. I might save a few seeds here or there, but as a standard practice, I want pure, vigorous seeds. If I get a deal on a variety I like, I often buy 3 years worth and store them in my seed filing cabinet.

 

[Duffster]

I realize there are those who speak of seed banks, seed storage, etc for political reasons. I will leave that totally alone.

THIS is what I would do, were I concerned about seeds. Go Buy Some!! They will keep. They have successfully germinated seeds from the ancient pyramids and such.

The problems associated with seed cross pollination, loss of vigor in the second generation, etc are too big O' pain. I might save a few seeds here or there, but as a standard practice, I want pure, vigorous seeds. If I get a deal on a variety I like, I often buy 3 years worth and store them in my seed filing cabinet.

Seeds keep even better in the freezer.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Plant one kind of squash and one kind of cucumber and you don't have to worry at all. If you dig a little deeper, you'll find that some squashes are safe from others, and even among those that will cross, you can hand pollinate and tie off the blossoms to create a few fruit from which you can harvest pure seed (hey, nobody said it was going to be easy). If you're intent on harvesting your own seed, I highly recommend the book "Seed to Seed". Available wherever lunatic fringe gardeners hang out.

Ambrosia is an F1 hybrid corn. In no way will you get viable seed from it. Take a look at Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for a few selections of open pollinated (not hybrid) corn from which seed could be saved. I'm looking into "Country Gentleman". They have "Seed to Seed" in their online catalog, too.

Oh, and to directly answer your question, the isolation distance for all cucurbits from others of the same family (squashes from squashes, melons from melons, cucumbers from cucumbers, etc.) is one half mile.

All of this said, I have some advice, which is going to be worth exactly what you're paying for it. Learn to raise food first, then learn about harvesting seed. If you spend all your time trying to learn how to get the second crop, you're very likely to never harvest the first crop. I've been gardening all my life, and only recently have saved a few seeds. I've got some second and third generation tomatoes and beans going in this year, but I've got them backed up with purchased seed, too.

 

[bp fick]

Oh, and to directly answer your question, the isolation distance for all cucurbits from others of the same family (squashes from squashes, melons from melons, cucumbers from cucumbers, etc.) is one half mile.

All of this said, I have some advice, which is going to be worth exactly what you're paying for it. Learn to raise food first, then learn about harvesting seed. If you spend all your time trying to learn how to get the second crop, you're very likely to never harvest the first crop. I've been gardening all my life, and only recently have saved a few seeds. I've got some second and third generation tomatoes and beans going in this year, but I've got them backed up with purchased seed, too.

From one life long gardener (who produces both for personal use and to sell to market) to another, Very well said.

 

[LRTX1]

You can also stager your plantings so the two varieties are not in bloom at the same time.

 

[jeffinsgf]

You can also stager your plantings so the two varieties are not in bloom at the same time.

Right, IF you're growing season is long enough (pointed out the guy in the midwest instead of Florida :laughing: ).

 

[LRTX1]

Right, IF you're growing season is long enough (pointed out the guy in the midwest instead of Florida :laughing: ).

Well, the OP is from Jawja. I was also thinking of squash, as in a summer type, which normally has a very short growing season, 50 days +/-

Sorry if I misled anyone from the artic states to thinking they could plant year long.....lol