Question
QUESTION: The squash are only growing to about 2" in diameter (should be 4-6 inches according to seed packet) before they begin to rot.  Am I watering too much?  Not watering enough?  I am using Miracle Gro once every 10-14 days.  Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Kim,
Thanx for your question.  This is really for the Vegetable forum but I grow this squash and love it!  First of all, where are you located?  Is the soil well drained?  You really don't need to water more than once a week if it has not been raining.  Stop feeding with the Miracle grow.  You only need to feed it after planting or sprouting and then maybe once more a few weeks later.  The little squahses are rotting of?  Have you noticed squash bugs?  If you're in the South, squash bugs can devastate this crop.  I'm in Kansas and we have a terrible problem with squash bugs in probably about another month.  The squash also need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight.  I hope this helps.
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you, Tom.  We are located in southern California (the armpit of California).  The soil is not well drained.  In fact, the only thing that one can successfully grow in this particular development is milkweed!  The developer dug out about 4 feet of top soil of what was once a large orange grove in order to build the homes.  The street bordering on the east is named Boulder Avenue for a reason.  Rocks, rocks, and more rocks.  I haven't noticed any squash bugs at all; and I planted the seeds where it gets full sunlight all day long.  The plants are large but the squash are small.  I figure I'll just cut them at about 2" or before they start to rot, as the plants are quite prolific.  

Thank you for responding to me.  I just provided the above information to you in case you have to answer another question from southern California.

Answer
Hi Kim,
Are you in Orange County by any chance?  In many parts of Southern California, there is a hard pan below the surface of the regular soil and not very far down.  This can make for poor drainage.  If you have nice, large plants and the squash are small, this is most likely a fertilizer issue.  I like to use liquid fish emulsion and/or well-composted manure.  It is excellent for the vegetables and does wonders for foliage, blooming and production.  Actually, the small versions of the squash are considered a delicacy and sell for sometimes up to $4.00 for a bag of them.  They are sweet and tender stirfried in olive oil with some garlic and onions or slice them into salads or use on trays to dip with other veggies like carrots and celery.  The Early White Bush Scallop is very prolific.  I hope you get to enjoy some.
Tom