"Dwayne" writes:
Terry, I have learned that the biggest reason small squash/pumpkins rot
before developing, was because they had not received enough visits from bees
and other pollinators.

I second that. The easiest is to transfer pollen with a brush from a male
flower to every newly opened female flower each morning, and not place
much reliance on the bees. During damp weather when the bees stay home
you can do their job for them and not lose out on setting fruit.

That's why I recommend zucchinis to the home gardener--they don't need
pollination because you pick the fruit while it's tiny, still at the embryo
stage.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)