I am growing many varieties of squash - do i need to keep them separate so they dont 'cross'... how far apart do they need to be from each variety?
I have planned to leave 1m between plants and 1.5 between rows and was going to have 2 blocks. One at the front of my lotty with buttercup, spagetti and butternut oh and courgette. Then at the back of my plot all the rest : Patty pans Squash â€" Custard White, Squash â€" Delicate Cornell, Squash â€" Turks Turban Squash â€" Uchiki Kuri and more courgette, butternut.
Wow :o OO, you've got quite a selection there!
I don't think you need to keep them separate. They will cross, but this is only a problem if you're planning to save the seed. Your spacings sound fine for the bush types. Trailers may need more space.
Yes, as Dandelion has said, the squash will definitely cross, but that won't affect this years harvest. I plant my courgettes about a metre apart, my other squashes are just threaded to go where-ever they can.
I feel I am missing out on the delights of growing an assortment of squash, so this is a 'must do' for next year, get a mixed pack ...
bummer - i was hoping to save seeds. what would i need to do to prevent them crossing - or is it going to be too much of a pain?
too much of a pain i reckon if you are planning to grow them this close together
look here:
http://www.vidaverde.co.uk/courgettes.html (scroll to the very bottom)
thanks for that svea!
I used to work in plant breeding many years ago and we used special celophane bags to prevent cross pollination - so in theory i should beable to do it!
Am i right in thinking there will be M and F flowers??? How will i know which is which? sorry if its a dumb question but as i've never seen a squash plant i cant picture it. I assume i leave the F flower and polinate with teh M and then band up ???
the female will have a tiny bulb behind the flower - the baby to be
in the pictures shon, the female is on the left
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/newsletters/hortupdate/mar03/art8mar.html
I just found the article above which is very helpful - I have just one morning to hand pollinate and band up! So looks like i have going to be hellish busy when they start to flower!
If you want seed, cover both male and female buds with the ends of old stockings just before they open; if you don''t have any, they're extremely cheap from Tesco's (none of the women in my family wears such things). Use the male, de-petalled, to fertilise the female, then cover the latter again until it drops. Mark the fruit with a bit of ribbon or something, and do half a dozen if you want to keep saving your own seed. Watch out for deterioration, and if you notice the quality falling off after a few years, buy another batch of seed in. I'm planning to save seed from lods of stuff, so should have plenty to swop later.
Ah - another brilliant idea - stockings... dont think i have any, usually wear them once and then chuck them, but im sure i'll get some cheapies from somewhere.