yellow squash problems

[greybeard]

Last year and again this year, on both straight and crookneck squash, I'm seeing the fruit start to make, get about 2-3" long, then turn dark yellow and hard as a rock. Watered daily, fertilized with 12-0-12 when plants were about 2-3 weeks growth. (soil sample result comments said not to add any phosphorus for 5 years.) The plants themselves look healthy, tho a bit smallish.
Very very sandy soil.
I'm thinking maybe a pollination problem, but the 3 years before last year, I had so much squash I couldn't give it all away--used the same seeds brand and variety.
Any suggestions?

 

[skyhightree1]

GB are you planting it in same spot each year?

 

[alisonb]

Must say it does sound rather like a pollination problem...

 

[CottageFarm]

Sounds like they're not uptaking the phosphorus even though the soil contains sufficient levels.
I would try adding calcium to improve the uptake of the phosphorus. I use oyster shell or bone meal because I always have them around.
The bone meal will increase phosphorus however.

Are you growing any other cucurbits, or anything else for that matter, that is/are exhibiting similar signs of phosphorus or calcium deficiency? Your sandy soil could be causing some problems with nutrient availability as well. Add denser organic material whenever you can.

 

[Nesikep]

Fungal problem perhaps? we used to grow 2 acres of it, and we didn't give it away either!.. Cows ate the seconds though.

 

[greybeard]

GB are you planting it in same spot each year?

Not my garden, this is the one I tilled up and planted for my brother-in-law after his heart surgery earlier in the year.

Soil was left fallow after last year's spring/summer garden and was mowed down every other week till the 1st frost. Added uneaten hay and composted cow manure after tilling, then tilled it in again.

 

[skyhightree1]

GB are you planting it in same spot each year?

Not my garden, this is the one I tilled up and planted for my brother-in-law after his heart surgery earlier in the year.

Soil was left fallow after last year's spring/summer garden and was mowed down every other week till the 1st frost. Added uneaten hay and composted cow manure after tilling, then tilled it in again.

I had that happen not at the beginning stages but mid to end stages of growth I had planted it same spot few years in a row. I moved them and so far every year after moving they are good.

 

[Ouachita]

I've had similar problems with springtime plantings. I now plant my yellow squash around the first week of August. Another benefit I have noticed is no squash bugs with the late summer/fall batch. Zuchinni does fine but I haven't figured out what the problem is with yellow. All I know is same seed, same soil, same care and etc; I have the same problem you are having with a spring plant and not with a late plant. Makes no sense to me. Only my observation