How many feet apart

[myheaven]

I have a few squash summer and winter, beans, peas, melons, and corn I want to plant. They are rare varity and I want to save seeds. As a rule of thumb how many feet should I give each species of the same family? My brain seems to recall 300 feet.

[Paquebot]

For squash, a half mile for purity. Ordinary beans can be planted side-by-side. Same for peas. Melons need a half mile for purity while corn is 2 miles.

Martin

[DayBird]

Originally Posted by Paquebot

Ordinary beans can be planted side-by-side.
Martin

Help me understand how this can be so? And what about extraordinary beans?

[Paquebot]

Originally Posted by DayBird

Help me understand how this can be so? And what about extraordinary beans?

Phaseolus vulgaris are self-fertile and the blossoms are pollinated before they open. Also, there is very little nectar and it is not readily available to insects.

Phaseolus lunatus, limas, are also self-pollinating but have open flowers with lots of nectar. If there are bees around, isolation by one mile assures purity.

Martin