[Matthew Gayles]

I no this question has probably being asked before but ....   I grew butternut's this year, having never grown squashes or pumpkins before. I set them off in pots, nurtured them untill a good size and planted end of may/ start of june in my raised beds which had been
manured (well rotted already) in january as the beds werent built till them. I planted one quite close to a variety of other plants -  namely sprouting broccoli on one side, courgettes and climbing beans on the other. I planted the other squash in and amongst my sweetcorn.

Heres the problem, i have fed sporadically, and they produce loads of male flowers, some female flowers and they do fruit but when they are about 3 inchs long they rot from the tip down. very frustrating as their have only been 3 or 4 . I read somewhere i may have to hand pollinate which i tried to o with a small paintbrush.

Whats happened what did i do wrong?

[JayG]

Early rotting off of squash fruits is usually caused by lack of pollination, although in wet conditions it can start from the soggy remains of the flower which is therefore better removed as soon as it will come away easily.

Are you sure you successfully transferred pollen from the male flowers to the central part of the female flower?

Don't have any other suggestions, I'm afraid. 

[Pompey Spud]

I've had big probs with BNS as well and I did very well last year with them and others. Too many if not all male flowers.

Both Turks Turban, Boston Hubbard and BNS have been p poor. Whilst other squashes have done well. I did grow a diffeent variety of BNS so won't be growing it next year.

Plenty of insects in June/July to pollinate.

Another reason can be growing them too close to each other by all accounts.