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Ontario

is it bad to have a giant squash plant planted in with the giant pumpkins in the same patch, as far as disease and everything else, i didnt think it would be a big deal as long as i was hand pollinating but i wanted to make sure? any info would help, thanks everyone

5/22/2008 6:27:17 PM

Nova Scotia

giant pumpkin and squash is the same plant except color of fruit.

5/22/2008 7:17:09 PM

Somers, CT

No problem as Mr.T states. The only thing to worry about is if you open polinate (leave it up to the bees) you may get some ugly green and orange thing.

I grew field pumpkins and gourds into the trees around my patch. Went to RI patch tour and Pete (PGRI) did the same. Had a ton of small bright orange pkins and a ton of gourds of all types up to 6' high in the trees.

5/22/2008 9:33:20 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

I'm waiting for G to answer this. . .

5/22/2008 10:54:32 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

Hand pollinate, and make sure to tie off the males before they open too (as bees may mix up the pollen in the males too), and make sure to close off the female before and after pollination, and that is just to make sure your crosses are what you intend them to be.

Actually, if you plan to keep/sell/trade the seeds, that is almost a must anyway.

Bees could mix your AG's with Mrs.Anderson's Hubbards or Bannana Squash from a mile away if you don't close pollinate anyway.

I see 0 reason to have to grow them seperate, as you have to hand/close pollinate anyway.

Both Orange and Green AG's are the exact same species, only difference is about a big as hair or eye color.

Check out Brook's 1068 http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=76680

My guess is that the 1068 line has a ShowKing (green AG)mixed in somewhere in its family history, and sometimes it has thrown a little Bi-Color Pumpkins.

I still think that Bi-Colors, one gene Orange, and on Green, equal dominance, is cool looking, so if thats the worst that could go wrong...

5/24/2008 7:39:05 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

Actually brook's is a 1402 grown fromt the 1068.

Just wanted to make that clear, and the 1402 is 1068 x self, so far as I know its seeds have all be traded by now, but that is an example of a green + orange pumpkin.

5/24/2008 7:40:23 PM

Ontario

alright, thats what i was thinking, thanks everyone for the help with awnsering my question, what is the best way to close the blossom after hand pollinating? i heard of a couple different things, but whats the one most commonly used to stop the bees from getting in

5/24/2008 9:40:24 PM

Colorado

travis,try small rubber bands on the flowers.I buy a variety pack at the store each summer. i find that the smaller ones that need two loops to have enough tension to stay on the tip of the flower work great.after you pollinate close the flower(gather the petals back up)
0. and place the rubber band back on.You usually have to use two to close it up good enough to keep it bee proof. ive used them for years and they work great

5/24/2008 10:31:33 PM

California High Desert [email protected]

I have the small rubber bands that we use on the horses manes. Do you think they would work? They look like this. http://www.valleyvet.com/mane-tail/BandIt-Rubberbands

5/25/2008 10:29:48 AM