Intercrossability of Cucurbit Species
Will different crops in the squash family cross?
Some cucurbit growers have asked whether the different crops in the cucurbit family (Cucurbitaceae) will cross with each other. The general answer to that question is: no. Below is a table showing the major cucurbit crops, and their cross compatibility.
| Crop | Cuke | Melon | Wtr | Sqsh | Pmp | G-Cu | G-Wx | G-Lg | G-Lf | G-Rg |
| Cucumber | X | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Melon | – | X | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Watermelon | – | – | X | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Squash | – | – | – | X | X | X | – | – | – | – |
| Pumpkin | – | – | – | X | X | X | – | – | – | – |
| Gourd-Cucurbita | – | – | – | X | X | X | – | – | – | – |
| Gourd-Wax | – | – | – | – | – | – | X | – | – | – |
| Gourd-Lagenaria | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | X | – | – |
| Gourd-Luffa | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | X | – |
| Gourd-Ridge | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | X |
X = will cross
– = will not cross
Cuke = cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
Melon = melon (Cucumis melo)
Wtr = watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and citron (C. lanatus var. citroides)
Sqsh = squash (Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata, C. argyrosperma)
Pmp = pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata, C. argyrosperma)
G-Cu = gourd-cucurbita (Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata, C. argyrosperma)
G-Wx = gourd-wax (Benincasa hispida)
G-Lg = gourd-lagenaria (Lagenaria siceraria)
G-Lf = gourd-luffa (Luffa aegyptiaca, L. cylindrica)
G-Rg = gourd-ridge (Luffa acutangula)