With zucchini, more likely to be lack of pollination.

If blossom end rot, need to be very finicky about maintaining evenly moist soil.

Rotting zukes are typically fruits that are being aborted by the plant due to poor pollination. Instead of dropping it off cleany, it just leaves it sitting there and it eventually rots. Do you have male flowers open on the same mornings with the female blossoms? Are there insects visiting those blooms. If not... they will rot.

Its my first year, so bear with me. How can I assist in the pollination? Could the Orkin mans visited next door?
anyway, How can I help?

I used one of those kiddie paint brushes to pollinate my zukes one year.

Just 'paint' the center of the male flower (long straight stem) and transfer the pollen to the female flower (the one with the small fruit behind it).

You should have zukes coming out of your ears in no time.

thanks! I am also glad you told me how to tell the sexes apart. I must wander out earlier tomorrow, can I catch them opening up when it starts to cool down and they have lovely shade once again?
I have had a few so far and DANG they are sooo good! it is a good feeling going outside to harvest the majority of dinner.

If I remember correctly, the female flowers don't last very long at all. I used to catch them opening up in the morning and then I'd whip out the old paint brush and go to town.

A word of caution though, don't be a meathead like me and stick your paint brush into the backside of a wasp. They really don't like that. lol

I've never used a paintbrush, I just pull off the male flower if he's well opened, stem and all, strip off the petals, and gently dab the male part into the female blossom's female part. I don't bother anymore since there's a healthy bumble-bee population around here.
Having two plants helps, it doubles the chances of male and female flowers coinciding. Two plants can make alot of zukes, maybe too many. You can also grow an acorn squash, cuz the blossoms and pollen are compatible.

And keep an eye out for the dreaded squash vine borer.

I was just out in my garden and noticed one sitting on one of my celery plants. Wasn't sure if it was the SVB because I had never seen one before. Came inside, googled it and sure enough, it was!

I ran back outside with my bottle of insecticidal soap, sprayed the bugger, but then wasn't sure if the soap would kill it. So I smashed it's head in with the bottle.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:91667}}

I use a Q-tip to pollinate. I swipe it onto the stamen in the male flower. You can see the yellow pollen on it easily. Then I put it into the female flower nodes( not sure the vame on the female flower) and tiwist it to try and get pollen onto every spot I can. I have read somewhere that you should do it before 10:00 a.m. I have noticed flowers only stay open one day and it is only the morning. Good luck. I just tried to do it this morning only to find that the bees got all the pollen before I got there.

Paul