question about melons and pollinating

[wkall]

I planted two different types of melons this year, one honey dew and one cantaloupe. It just dawned on me that they could possibly be cross-pollinated since they are side by side. Does anyone know if this is possible? Will it affect the fruit?

Also, I almost never see bees, so I hand pollinate when I can. I do however see lots of butterflys and wasps going from flower to flower. Are they pollinating??? I am starting to see a few fruit maturing but not sure if it is from my efforts or Mother Nature's.

If anyone has any wisdom on the subject, I would appreciate it. I would love to stop hand pollinating as I am 8 1/2 months pregnant!

Thanks
Wendy

[jrosto]

I can not answer your cross polinating question, but the butterflies and wasps are doing a great job of polinating your flowers for you. There should be no need to hand polinate.

[kbrew]

I think that the cross-pollenating would only effect the seeds produced in the melons you are currently growing. If you planted those, you probably wouldn't be happy with the result. Kent

[dragonfly]

I think Kentobrew is right. It shouldn't effect the fruit of your current plants, but would cause some abnormalities if you saved and planted the seeds of this year's produce.

[Nadine]

Then again, you might come up with something special...

[gjhood]

I know this is from last year, but I planted pickles and Cantelope very close to one another. The pickles came out as pickelopes. The Cantelope, weren't much better. They will cross.