Watermelon & Squash

[Texan]

I have a question (or 10). I was looking at youtube yesterday trying to see what different kinds of watermelon patches looked like. I heard one lady say not to have your watermelons and squash to close or they will "cross pollinate". What exactly does that mean? Will I wind up with watersquash or squashmelons?

The reason I want to know is that I just tilled up the watermelon area yesterday and it is across the driveway from the other garden. The squash row is the row closest to the watermelon patch at a distance of about 35 feet between the two.

I plan on planting the watermelon seeds around the the 20th or so of March.

 

[vfem]

I was told YES squashmelon things happen and they are GROSS. Yet I've had others say it only wrecks the seeds... my suggestion is don't even chance it.


Either way would not be good. :/

 

[me&thegals]

I've always grown mine together with no watersquashes Their seeds will possibly have the characteristics of both melons and squash, so you wouldn't want to save the seeds.

As far as I know, the only time you have to worry about this sort of thing is when you are saving the seeds for next year or when you are eating the seeds (like sweetcorn, where you eat the immediate results of pollination--corn kernesl--and cross-pollination with field corn makes the sweetcorn gross).

 

[Texan]

Dang, I was wanting to save the seeds from the yellow meated ones for next year. I guess I will have to see what happens. Do yall think 35 feet is far enough apart? Please bear with me here as this is my first year planting as an adult (we grew gardens when I was little and other than pushing the seeds in that was it for me).

I really do appreciate all of yalls help. It is encourageing that some of yall arent getting watersquashes.

 

[setter4]

Dang, I was wanting to save the seeds from the yellow meated ones for next year. I guess I will have to see what happens. Do yall think 35 feet is far enough apart? Please bear with me here as this is my first year planting as an adult (we grew gardens when I was little and other than pushing the seeds in that was it for me).

I really do appreciate all of yalls help. It is encourageing that some of yall arent getting watersquashes.

Are your yellow melons hybrids? If so scratch the seed saving idea. lol
Don't laugh about the squashmelons...I had Squmpkins all last summer from my pumpkin/summer squash illicit relationship!

 

[Texan]

Dang, I was wanting to save the seeds from the yellow meated ones for next year. I guess I will have to see what happens. Do yall think 35 feet is far enough apart? Please bear with me here as this is my first year planting as an adult (we grew gardens when I was little and other than pushing the seeds in that was it for me).

I really do appreciate all of yalls help. It is encourageing that some of yall arent getting watersquashes.

Are your yellow melons hybrids? If so scratch the seed saving idea. lol
Don't laugh about the squashmelons...I had Squmpkins all last summer from my pumpkin/summer squash illicit relationship!

Yes, I believe they are and I had not even thought of that. Thank You for reminding me. I may just stick with regular watermelons next year. I am growing them for wine anyway.

Is 35 feed apart enough space?

 

[setter4]

If they are hybrids it won't really matter.

 

[Texan]

If they are hybrids it won't really matter.

Just so I know, what happens if I plant the seeds that I get from the hybrids? Is 35 feet far enough apart?

 

[setter4]

If they are hybrids it won't really matter.

Just so I know, what happens if I plant the seeds that I get from the hybrids? Is 35 feet far enough apart?

Squash and melon are not the same family so they won't cross anyway.

 

[Texan]

If they are hybrids it won't really matter.

Just so I know, what happens if I plant the seeds that I get from the hybrids? Is 35 feet far enough apart?

Squash and melon are not the same family so they won't cross anyway.

Well, I like the sound of that a lot better. By the way, I love the picture of the dog in your avatar.

Any idea what happens if I plant the seeds that I get from the hybrid watermelons? Are they sterile or will another type of watermelon grow from those seeds?