No curcubita pepos have grown for us here ( dry tropics of Brazil, very sandy soils), not even with good irrigation and abundant compost.
I wonder if it is:
Something to do with daylength? (We garden in the "winter" with shortening days)
Sand? Is it more adapted to clay?
Our slightly salty water?
Extreme heat ? (although our winters are mild, a bit like European summers).
They almost always go silvery ( I donīt remember what the name of this problem is, but it is definitely a symptom and not a cause) and die, right next to the (local) moschatas e maximas who are vibrantly healthy...
I do enjoy summer squash, especially the yellow ones!
Thanks!
Curcubita pepo in the tropics?
I do not think daylight is a problem, but I am not an expert. Look for mildew problems, or insects. Mildew can happen in dry climates if you overhead water a lot. Try drip irrigation and a light misting with baking soda water to deter mildew.
Check out this link, there's lots of information that should help you.
www.prota4u.org/protav8.asp?&g=pe&p=Cucurbita+pepo+L.