OK lets say this is the only pumpkin or squash around in the area for
pollination purposes and the vine has male and female blooms which the bees
pollinate. Wouldn't it go back to whatever it's "parent" was?
I know that gourds are like that (other than they are pollinated by moths at
night). If you are growing one type of gourd you cannot grow another type
within several miles of each other due to cross-pollination and end up with
whatever weirdo.

Elaine
"lwhaley" wrote in message
oups.com...

Elaine wrote:
Hi everybody! Here's a question... I've got a "wild" pumpkin vine that
was
growing in my foxglove bed. Seems after talking with my neighbor, he had
given out pumpkins seeds to the birds and squirrels and one found it's
way
across the street to my flower bed. I suppose he got this from the bird
seed
section of the store but I will ask to make sure.
I moved it to a decomposing log pile and leaf area . Anyway my brother
"the
farmer of the family" said it would never have orange pumpkins, just
green
ones. Anybody know if this is true?
BTY It likes it's new home and is running all over the place.

As others have said, the pumpkin family are notorious outcrossers.
this means that pumkins that are not grown with seed production in mind
will likley be pollinated by other pumpkins of a different variety.
For the pumpkin to grow true from seed it has to be grown in isolation.
This can be accomplished by physical isolation. Seed producers have
an established distance their seed crop must be from other varieties.
Other methods can also be used such as caging and hand pollinations to
produce smaller quanities of seed.

What this all means is that your brother is probably right. Your vine
will produce something but you don't know what. I will likely be green
like your bro said and may not be good for anything other than an
autumn display. In any case, you can keep the vine around as an
experiment if you are curious. If you want or expect actual pumpkins
then you would destroy it.
Lawrence