I have yellow squash in raised beds within 3 feet of each other. In Box A the plant is small but I have gotten one foot long squash off of it. In Box B the plant is huge and healthy and puts out squash like crazy but they shrivel and die at about 2 inches or so I haven't been able to harvest a single squash-- very frustrating. They have roughly the same soil and receive the same water. This is 'square foot gardening' so Box A has some okra planted around it - Box B is next to cucumbers and am getting a bunch of cucumbers if that is maybe making an impact. Im getting ready to just pull the plant out and replace it with something i may actually be able to eat :)

Is the flower blooming and then after that the cuke turns brown and falls off ? That is a pollination problem. Do you have enough bees or other insects around to pollinate your cucumbers ? If not, you may need to pollinate by hand. More info in the following 3 FAQ's from the vegetable garden forum frequently asked questions section ... http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/cornucop/ - - How Do I Pollinate My Plants by Hand? - - Squash/cucumber/melon flower: male vs. female - - My squash/cukes/melons are not fruiting! These websites have some pictures of male vs. female flowers ... Cucumber - http://gardeningwithwilson.com/2008/02/23/pollinating-cucumber-flowers/ Pumpkin - http://gardeningwithwilson.com/2008/04/22/pollinating-pumpkin-flowers/ Watermelon - http://gardeningwithwilson.com/2008/09/24/wonder-wha-watermelon-flowers-look-like/ Cantaloupe (Muskmelon) - http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/senior/vegetabl/muskmel4.htm One type of Winter Squash - http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/sshow.asp?ssid=2&slddtl=1 Yellow Squash (male on left, female on right) - Zucchini Squash - http://santarosa.ifas.ufl.edu/hot_topic_five.shtml

Sometimes they do that when they are just starting out, and it balances out later. Agreed. And in z8 should be balanced by now. Dan

acorn922, I find it strange that you have female flowers appear before any male flowers. From my experience I have always had male flowers appear many days even weeks before females showed up. But I hear that is not always the case with all varieties and I am sure weather may somehow influence as well. You don't have your local stated.....It's winding down here for the season being a more than normal cool year. I can't imagine getting fruit to ripen this time of year with the shorter days and cooler nights. What variety are you growing? I grew 2 this year tweety, and an accidental ebay find. Tweety are a really good very sweet but with little flavor hybrid (I prefer muskmelon flavor). The ebay find was supposed to be a north Dakota giant but instead grew a bunch of 5-6 Lb footballs with the flavour of a very bland store bought honey dew. don555 how is the weather out there? I have a very good friend who lives in Calgary and he sent me a photo of his back yard and his homemade greenhouse covering his tomatoes just covered in snow! Yuck! Glenn