cucurbita grow long shallow roots far beyond where you planted the seeds, some more some less. So you should mulch and water well around it not where the stems emerge from the ground. That is one reason you hill them slightly and do not water the top of hills.

Thanks cyrus gardner!

I don't get it, why don't you want to water near the main stem?
For sure though, squashes put down aventicious roots at each leaf joint that touches the ground. And you want those roots to draw moisture and nutrients. If you grow vining squash in a well-prepared and moist spot, and let the vines travel over barren, dry, hard soil... those plants will wilt on warm/dry days. If instead the vines are able to draw moisture all along their lengths, they draw plenty of water to prevent wilting.
Some people say the wilting is natural and that's true. It's a natural reaction to water depravation.
Having said all that, in the typical back yard it's impractical to cultivate such large areas that vining squashes will cover. I try to give each vine at least 3 or 4 feet in every direction of soil that is fertile and watered. After that, they're on their own, and some wilting will occur.

I was thinking cyrus maybe meant "that's why you don't water just the top of the hills".....??