Question
Hi Mike
  My squash plants are growing 12 feet long with plenty leafs and blossems. Little or no squash for 3 or so years. I have only about 5 hours of full sunlight a day;;;; is that the problem or just part of the problem.
  Tomato plants grow 5 foot tall with little fruit;;; pro 100's and cherries do better then the larger tomatoes.
 Basil and Parsley do really well.
 Thanks for your advice
Jerry Soloway
 LI New York

Answer
Jerry, poor fruiting on squash on any other fruit-bearing plant is usually an indication of one of three conditions.  These include poor soil, lack of sunlight, or inadequate pollination.

First, and most importantly, fruit-bearing plants require high levels of magnesium and phosphorus.  The best solution is to amend your soil with as much organic matter as possible.  These materials include peat moss, shredded leaves, compost, aged manure, and dried grass clippings. In the meantime, fertilize the plants once every 2 weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer high in phosphorus.

Secondly, squash needs a minimum of 6-8 hours of sunlight per day.  The more sun, the more squash.  Based on your description, this is definitely one of the causes.  Squash also needs a minimum of 1.5" water per week.  Mulch the plants to a depth of 2" with shredded leaves or straw to help retain moisture.

Finally, you need bees in the area to pollinate the plants. If this is a problem, you can attract more bees by planting bright annuals such as salvia, marigolds, zinnia, or cosmos in the same general area as your squash.

I hope this answered your question.  Please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike