I have 2 Butternut Squash plants that are growing well - I have pruned it back quite a lot, as it was taking over the garden, but I am unsure if I am going to be successful in getting it to fruit properly.

I am getting a lot of fruits and flowers, but when the fruits get to about 2 inches big, they turn yellow and start to rot - is this because I cut back too much, or not enough? Am I watering them too much, or not enough? Am I giving them the wrong kind of food (sometimes general purpose liquid plant food, sometimes a little liquid tomato food I have left in my can)?

I have lifted the vines up raised them on to a pallet to keep them off the ground, as I did have a slug problem, and that has stopped them from being eaten, but now I am worried that as I keep pinching out, I will be left with no fruits as i cut away the ones that appear to be rotting.

This is my first year gardening (apart from when I was little and used to "help" my dad!), so any advice would be welcome!