Newbie mistake - please can someone help me identify my plants??

[ourlittlezoo]

I thought my labelling system was foolproof, but apparently not. The long and short of it is, I have mixed up my zucchini, summer squash and butternut squash seedlings!! They have their secondary leaves through, can anyone give me hints as to how I can tell the difference between them? If not, will they cross pollinate? I had to put them in the ground for now, but it'd be easy to relocate them if I can tell the difference. Otherwise, my patch is all mixed up! Will I get butternut zucchini all summer??

I'm so dippy!

Thank you to anyone who can help!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I would not worry. I put my different summer squashes together with no repercussions. Just don't try to save the seeds for planting next year. Corn is the only thing I can think of where cross-pollinating makes a difference in this year's yield.

 

[theOEGBman]

I've always noticed with my zucchini and summer squash, the leaves are different. The squash are more rounded and the zukes have very sharp edges.

The squash plant is the closest to the camera, on the very right.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff299/Jordan17aaron/005-9.jpg


Good Lord! Search as I might, I cannot find a pic of a zucchini plant! If I was home I'd go out and snap one, but Im having no luck. I'll keep searching. Im having no luck, I'd be happy to take a picture for you when I get home though.

 

[lesa]

Not to worry- you'll know when the squash starts developing! Gardening is such a learning experience. I labeled mine with plastic knives written on with marker- only to find the knives were too tall for some of my coldframes! Live and learn...Even the mistakes still look and taste good!!Enjoy!

 

[ourlittlezoo]

Yes, i think I'll put this down to experience and work out a better labelling method for next year! If they're not going to cross pollinate or anything, then that's ok.
My learning curve sure has been steep!!

Thanks everyone.

 

[Purple Strawberry]

For a good labeling system. Go to Home Depot and get paint sticks and paint or write on those.

 

[ourlittlezoo]

Funny, that's exactly what I just did!! Thanks!

 

[Purple Strawberry]

They give them out for free even if you don't buy paint so why not go get some. I painted 40 in craft paint of the colors kiwi, lilac purple, mango and caribbean. Then in a pink paint pen I am writing the names of 23 different vegetables and vine fruit that I plan to plant in the garden this year and in the next years. They are sooo cute. I meant to add that I am spray painting them with a clear polyurethane to make them last years.

Happy Gardening!!!