I have a yellow summer squash that has produced several fruits, but each time as the flower dies off at the tip of the fruit, it begins to rot, and ends up rotting the entire fruit.

I've never noticed this happening before. What is it?

I don't really know right off the top of my head.

But it sounds like you could use a good dose of a foliar/soil drench application of a good nitrogen rich biostimulant like compost tea or fish emulsion, in order to speed up the quick recovery of your squash crop, while building up the disease fighting microbes in the soil below.

Thanks, Capn. I'll try that.

Boosting the soil/plant is a good idea, will give the plant strength to fight off what is going on. Check your plant for cucumber beetles (small black with yellow stripes). They are transmitting wilt through the flowers. Also, has your area been very wet? We had that happen to us last year (northeast PA) when the weather stayed cool and rainy for much of the summer. Buds would come, fruit would set, and the buds would then rot and transmit to the fruit also. I had a little success with pulling the flowers as soon as the fruit appeared, but that's not a real solution, just a hopeful fix. Definitely give Captn's solution a go; can't hurt and certainly will help the plant!
Stay cool!

Thanks for the info. Yes, we had an entire week where it rained literally without stopping. We get a few days of sunshine and then more rain.

Although, for some reason, the water levels are still low at local wetlands. I don't understand it.

Anyway, that would definitely explain this.

But I will try some organic fertilizers and see where I get with it.

Thanks so much!!

Heather

Female flowers that haven't been pollinated will do this, too. The fruits can be good sized, but won't make it without their boyfriend's help. You might want to go out with a Q tip and create a little "romance" just to be sure.