AFAIK -- which isn't very far! -- cross-pollination only affects flavor if you're growing mild peppers which are pollinated by a hot pepper. The seeds will be a hot surprise!

But logically it shouldn't make any difference for squash, because the only part of the fruit that contains the pollen-parent's DNA is the seeds.

If you're going to eat the squash seeds, they might taste different?

It depends on how long term you're talking.

If you're just doing a crop this year and buying new seeds for next year, no, there will be no issues with cross-pollination. All fruit is produced by the parent plant, not the seeds. If the plant is pure, the fruit will always be the same no matter what you pollinate it with.

The tricky part gets into if you get cross-fertilized, save those seeds, then plant them the next year. Then you will have issues with things like flavor, yield, appearance, etc because they will be hybrid plants with unpredictable traits from both parents.

I also have a cross-pollination question. I usually don't care about seeds, I'm too lazy to save them every year and just buy new ones.

But this year I am growing Williams naked seeded squash, and am growing it for the seeds. I am growing a variety or summer and winter squash, as well as pumpkins and gourds. I am still in the planning stage. Do I need to worry about the Williams naked getting cross pollinated making the seeds develop hulls or will I be ok?

missingtheobvious: I've never seen hot seeds from cross pollination. Yes, the seeds grown out will usually produce a hot pepper plant, but not the seed in a sweet pepper. In fact, even in hot peppers, the seeds are not normally hot. They usually only get hot due to the placenta around them being damaged and spilling capsaicin on them.

Lazey,

I think you'll be alright, as long as you don't plant the resulting seed next year.

George
Tahlequah, OK

From what ive read the flavor should not be effected unless you are growing from seed saved from cross polinationed fruit. if you are starting from fresh purchased seed the fruit will be true and the flavor should be fine. at least thats what I read, and from limited exp.