"FragileWarrior" wrote in message
...
Johnny wrote in
ups.com:

On May 21, 7:22 am, FragileWarrior
wrote:


Ron H. in West Central Wisconsin

Are you worried about cross-pollination? Don't. Unless you save the
seeds to plant next year, it won't matter.

Please tell me more about cross-pollination. Sounds interesting.
Thanks,
Johnny



Short answer is that the seed you just planted already contains the DNA
hard-wiring for this year's crop. A pumpkin will just be a pumpkin no
matter what it is planted next to. However, if you plant it close to
another vegetable that can cross-pollinate with it, the seeds *from the
cross-pollination* will no longer be a pumpkin. If you save and plant
them next year, you will get some hybrid off-spring that probably won't
make you too happy.

Here's a thread that goes into some of the aspects of cross-pollination:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/l...503129055.html

Supposed I save some seed from this years watermelon crop. Am I gonna have
waterpenos or tomamelons as jalapenos and tomatoes planted either side of
the watermelons? Spicy water melons and rich, acidy melons. Anything goes
with beer, I guess.
Dave