Cobnut pollination

[reetnproper]

Hi guys,

Another newbie type question I'm afraid.

One of my cobnut squash plants has a female flower about to open (prob tomorrow or Wednesday) but thre are no male flowers anywhere near ready. I do, however, have a few winter squash plants with a healthy abundance of male flowers. Now for the newbie bit:

Can I cross pollinate my cobnut with winter squash?
If so, will the resultant fruit be edible?

Thanks, in advance, for your comments, advice etc.
Regards
Reet

[taff]

OK, this is not an expert opinion by the way...The flower just needs to be pollinated, not particularly by the same variety of squash pollen.
If there's nearby pollen and there are bees involved, it'll be pollinated. Ifyou're planning on saving the seed, I'd hang on for a male variety of the same to pollinate, but if it's only edible fruit you're after, then any pollen will do.

[bazzaboy]

Reet, like Taff my guess (stress "guess", I'm not a botanist!) would be Yes and Yes. Personally with squash I don't interfere too much apart from water during dry spells (er, when's that then this year?) and some protection from slugs etc and providing weather and soil are sympathetic squashes seem to grow galore.... And although you may see no males around there's all sorts of lovey-dovey stuff going on when you're not looking. But no harm in giving them some assistance (because this 09 summer weather to date not ideal, where abouts are you?) and if adjacent varieties both edible can't see any mishaps happening (whereas wouldn't cross with ornamentals as they can evidently be toxic). Might be interesting for others (coz similar question recently) if you record what you decide to do along with results in the autumn. b.