[Ali Wood]

 After growing some very large fine pumpkins last year, I thought it would be much more practical to grow some smaller squash varieties, (honey bear and harlequin) so I wouldn't have the sometimes interesting task of 'now I've cut it I have to eat it before it goes off', smaller individual portions is the way to go. Although they have many fruits, they get to the size of a plum then rot! Have tried clipping odd leaves off to increase air flow, and water into a sunk bottle in the ground to avoid wet soil but am at a loss. It's not been that wet this year, any ideas?

[simonwatson]

If they don't swell and then fall off/rot then they're probably not pollinated. I often try and give them a hand by poking the innards of a male flower in any female ones.

[mumofstig]

Seems a lack of pollinating insects this year, they've not coped well with the weird weather 

[Ali Wood]

Thanks for your replies, didn't occur to me to worry about pollination problems.Sometimes you miss the obvious things.

[surbie100]

If the plants don't get enough water they will abort the fruit too. It's been a weird season for squashes, cold and dry. Most of mine only have one fruit per plant and they are fairly small.

[RJR_38]

If the plants don't get enough water they will abort the fruit too. It's been a weird season for squashes, cold and dry. Most of mine only have one fruit per plant and they are fairly small.

We must have had similar weather to you and I would say it's probably going to be my best year to date for squash - apart from one weird very gnarled fruit which is puzzling me.

[Hampshire Hog]

Only one squash per plant here in grey Hampshire

Cheers Hh