Zucchini are usually fairly soft. It's possible that you got a plant that was mislabeled. What they are growing near makes no difference. Usually the only problem with zucchini is that you get too many of them. Are you picking them when they are about 8 inches long?

Specific variety name please. There are over 50 zucchini varieties and not all varieties give the same results.

And like lgteacher indicated, since you are inexperienced with them what you may consider a "young fruit" may in fact be an old fruit that had a nutrient, pollination, or watering issue. So size measurement and/or a photo showing shape would help as shape often indicates the original problem. 8" would be the longest I would let them go, 6" is better.

Dave

Thanks everyone! I looked for the label but couldn't find it, but I consider it your regular zucchini plant that came in a 4-pack. In the past, I bought heirlooms/organics, but they didn't survive. If irregular water could cause zucchini to get a hard rind, then that's a possibility because I'm trying to conserve water. The zucchini were not large or old. These are about 3 inches, and the leaves are larger than they appear here. The couple I got before were 5-6 inches.

Trying to post a photo of the one I got yesterday that half is very hard and the other half was sort of shriveled. Will do different post since this appears to only get two photos here. Where's the review button here? Hope once I submit, it won't attach the other photo that I've clicked several times, lol!

This is just under six inches long. The inside is soft.

Yeah I'd bet on watering issues based on the appearance. Inconsistent shape development as well as the hollow seed cavity are clear signs of watering issues. You can see how the blossom end started off with much better water levels than the neck end has.

A drip irrigation system, if possible, is the best way to conserve lots of water while still insuring sufficient water and consistent soil moisture levels for the plant.

Some of the stripped varieties are more drought tolerant than others like this.

Dave

Thanks, went out and watered and will try to be more consistent with that!

Like Dave said, that shape points squarely at inconsistent watering. Zukes don't seem to have very deep roots, and I grow the stuff in full sun, arid-everything, hot temps, heavy OM, and lots of mulch. They grow wonky if the watering is inconsistent, so in these conditions, automatic drip is the key.