Crossword Genius

Last month, one year after producing rot (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

decay

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'rot' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'last month one year after producing' is the wordplay.
'last month' becomes 'dec'.
'one year' becomes 'y'.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'producing' becomes 'a' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'y' put after 'a' is 'ay'.
'dec'+'ay'='DECAY'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for decay that I've seen before include "Decompose or fall into ruin" , "'Decompose, rot (5)'" , "Briefly fashionable" , "Rot, perish" , "Putrefy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app