I transplanted some squash plants from seed, and lost all of them. They turned yellow over time and I thought the soil lacked nutrients so I fertilized but it still didn’t bring them baxk. Eventually the leaves and flowers just shriveled up brown and died.

Today I plucked the plants out of the raised bed to inspect and see if I could figure out why I lost them. I noticed this weird white mealy looking substance coming out of the stem. I cut the stem open and it there was more inside. Anyone know what this indicates? Is my soil diseased? Or did they just dry out from too much sun. not sure what to think about this.