A very good book to get is Seed to Seed. It talks about how to properly save seeds without the risk of cross-pollination. I try to save many of my own seeds so I don't have to purchase new ones. It's part of my food security protocol. So, for squash, i only grow one variety per year. If im planning on saving seeds.
Thanks for the book rec! And yep, if you aren't planning on saving seeds, you don't need to worry about cross pollination, but it doesn't have to be difficult to prevent it, and since certain seeds don't stay viable as long, if you don't plan to grow that variety each year, saving seeds might not be worth it in that case.
@cookseyfarms my dear, seeds can be viable for a long time if properly stored.😊 Only a few exceptions, like onions, for instance. I have seeds that are nearly 10 years old, and they are still good. 😊 No, it's not difficult to prevent cross-pollination, but every bit of information helps. 😁
@@Momma_Tomma yes, that’s what I meant, some seeds, not all won’t stay viable for too many years, so I wouldn’t worry about cross pollination on some things if it wouldn’t be worth it to save seeds especially if they aren’t going to be grown every year.
Pretty alarmist. This is very rare and will only be significant when the pumpkin is extremely bitter. I have grown and allowed cross pollination between commercial seeds for decades and have never noticed a problem, except for a significant number of non-yielding plants.
It's not that alarmist, it's just something that CAN happen and people should be aware of it and try and avoid it if possible so they don't waste their time and resources growing something inedible/something that could make them sick. I did mention in this video that not all cross pollination with squash is bad or is guaranteed to give you toxic squash syndrome, and that if you have a cross and it doesn't taste bitter, it's fine.
Oh, this sounds important! And I’ve never heard of it 😮 By the way, I bought some pumpkin seeds as a fun experiment for my son and we’re planning on growing them on the balcony. Are they self-pollinating, do I have to hand-pollinate them? Because our balcony is enclosed and we have screens on the windows to keep bugs out of the apartment
I am a little unsure of what you mean by "good squashes," but it's squash from the same genus that can become toxic. I wish I had a better example, but it's kind of like inbreeding, where the genetics are so close together that problems can arise, with squash, when the genetics are too close together they can be toxic, but that's only if you save and grow the seeds.
...so do I have no idea what I'm talking about, or do I "know well" what you mean? Which is it? I see you clearly didn't watch the video which explains how and why squash can become toxic, but hey, let me know when your video on the topic is up, I'd love to see it!
I got really sick from spaghetti squash I bought from a farmers market stall.. it wasn't bitter at all.. o had no idea you could get this sick 2 days of throwing up...
Even though cucumbers are a cucurbit, you're probably fine from bitter cucumbers. Cucumbers are often bitter for a few reasons and there are people who remove the bitterness by cutting the ends off and rubbing them together (it'll foam out). That being said, even if bitter cucumbers won't make you sick, they're just not pleasant to keep trying to eat!
@cookseyfarms True! I think I found that out as a child too! 😖 I didn't know the trick re rubbing the ends together though! 🙂 (I think they go bitter when they are pollinated: so I think the modern trick is to get an all-female variety...)
Learned something new. Thanks! I guess I’ll keep it simple and stick with just butternut!
You can always grow varieties from a different genus, that wouldn't cross, or just don't save the seeds if you don't want to limit what you grow!
Thanks for the info. I've never heard of this before.
No problem! Even if it's not super common, it's just one of those things to be aware of!
Neither did I!
A very good book to get is Seed to Seed. It talks about how to properly save seeds without the risk of cross-pollination.
I try to save many of my own seeds so I don't have to purchase new ones. It's part of my food security protocol. So, for squash, i only grow one variety per year. If im planning on saving seeds.
Thanks for the book rec! And yep, if you aren't planning on saving seeds, you don't need to worry about cross pollination, but it doesn't have to be difficult to prevent it, and since certain seeds don't stay viable as long, if you don't plan to grow that variety each year, saving seeds might not be worth it in that case.
@cookseyfarms my dear, seeds can be viable for a long time if properly stored.😊 Only a few exceptions, like onions, for instance. I have seeds that are nearly 10 years old, and they are still good. 😊
No, it's not difficult to prevent cross-pollination, but every bit of information helps. 😁
@@Momma_Tomma yes, that’s what I meant, some seeds, not all won’t stay viable for too many years, so I wouldn’t worry about cross pollination on some things if it wouldn’t be worth it to save seeds especially if they aren’t going to be grown every year.
Good info, thanks for sharing.
Thank you for watching! :)
Pretty alarmist.
This is very rare and will only be significant when the pumpkin is extremely bitter.
I have grown and allowed cross pollination between commercial seeds for decades and have never noticed a problem, except for a significant number of non-yielding plants.
It's not that alarmist, it's just something that CAN happen and people should be aware of it and try and avoid it if possible so they don't waste their time and resources growing something inedible/something that could make them sick. I did mention in this video that not all cross pollination with squash is bad or is guaranteed to give you toxic squash syndrome, and that if you have a cross and it doesn't taste bitter, it's fine.
Oh, this sounds important! And I’ve never heard of it 😮
By the way, I bought some pumpkin seeds as a fun experiment for my son and we’re planning on growing them on the balcony. Are they self-pollinating, do I have to hand-pollinate them? Because our balcony is enclosed and we have screens on the windows to keep bugs out of the apartment
I'd hand pollinate just in case because if you do have screens and an enclosed balcony, it may be hard for pollinators to come through!!!
@@cookseyfarms There should be no way for them to get through. Ok, so I’ll hand pollinate them 😊 Thanks for the info!
Of course! :)
Good information, thankyou😊
You are welcome! :)
I thought 2 good squashes can't cross pollenate to make a toxic squash
I am a little unsure of what you mean by "good squashes," but it's squash from the same genus that can become toxic. I wish I had a better example, but it's kind of like inbreeding, where the genetics are so close together that problems can arise, with squash, when the genetics are too close together they can be toxic, but that's only if you save and grow the seeds.
@@cookseyfarms I see you have no idea what you're talking about. and you know well what I mean by good squash
...so do I have no idea what I'm talking about, or do I "know well" what you mean? Which is it? I see you clearly didn't watch the video which explains how and why squash can become toxic, but hey, let me know when your video on the topic is up, I'd love to see it!
I got really sick from spaghetti squash I bought from a farmers market stall.. it wasn't bitter at all.. o had no idea you could get this sick
2 days of throwing up...
Oof, maybe there was something else wrong with it, or just a coincidence and something entirely unrelated? :(
terima kasih😊😊
So if you eat a bitter Cucumber, you'll get it? 🙂 (Never heard of that one. My dad grew tons of cucumbers that tasted bitter.)
Even though cucumbers are a cucurbit, you're probably fine from bitter cucumbers. Cucumbers are often bitter for a few reasons and there are people who remove the bitterness by cutting the ends off and rubbing them together (it'll foam out). That being said, even if bitter cucumbers won't make you sick, they're just not pleasant to keep trying to eat!
@cookseyfarms True! I think I found that out as a child too! 😖 I didn't know the trick re rubbing the ends together though! 🙂 (I think they go bitter when they are pollinated: so I think the modern trick is to get an all-female variety...)
yeah, cucumbers seem to be pretty tricky, there are definitely self-pollinating varieties that would be a safe bet to avoid bitterness!!!