Squash Fruit Rot

This fungal disease is a problem on summer squash blossoms and fruit during warm, wet, humid weather. The fungus first infects the wilted flowers and then spreads to the attached fruit. Young infected squash fruit turn dark near the blossom end, dies and drops. A soft, watery rot develops on older fruit that soon become covered with a dark, fuzzy mold, which are spores of the fungus. Wind and rain spreads this disease.

Control: Remove wilted flowers by hand. Currently no fungicides are available. Avoid wetting fruit when watering. Avoid overcrowding of plants to increase air movement.