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Oregon Update

Hello all,
Well it has been a while since the computer was fired up due to work and the
garden.  The season has definately kept me busy so far.  I haven't even been
keeping tabs on everyones progress to see if anyone else is having luck.  I
have a few flops this year with no carrots to speak of, or parsnips or
kohlrobi.  (looks like the kohlrobi wars are out for me guys)  Other than
that things are going great.  Here is a run down on the pumpkins so far.....
     Site #1 the transplanted #627.5 Hester... Main vine headed NW and is a
little over 6 feet long.  Other runners from main root area are 4,3,and 3
feet.  In the past 2 weeks this plant has really taken off and totally shook
its late transplant shock.  It has a tendency to send runners straight into
the air up to 3 1/2 feet before they finally lay down.  The root system is
healthy but not as advanced as a couple others.  No visible females yet.
     Site #2  The #827 Holland... Main vine still headed NE and is over 9
feet long.  Many other runners have taken off in every direction.  Vine
burying on the plants this year has been a pain to keep up with, but wow!
 This is my second biggest plant and looks great with a female visable 8 1/2
feet out from the main root.  Root system very well developed extending 3
feet plus from the vegetation.
     Site #3  The #850.5 LaRue...  Still the weirdo in the patch.  four days
ago I severed the main vine 5 feet out from the center of the plant.  It was
already 8 inches wide by 2 inches thich and looking like a big club.  It was
showing no signs of correcting itself into a normal vine so I lopped off the
end and buried it.  Since then many new runners have shown up from the main
root system as well as from the sides of the club vine all of which look
normal and strong.  The second main is headed due north and is growing strong
over 6 feet long.  Folliage is healthy green with big leaves.
     Site #4  The #627.5 Hester...  Joel might want to come see this one to
put on his video.  If it sets a fruit which grows like the vegetative part is
then I will smile come October 5th.  The main vine is nearing 13 feet long as
I type and almost the size of my wrist one foot out from the main stem.  For
the past week it has grown six to eight inches a day even in this cool
weather.  A female flower is developing at about the 10 foot mark and the
first male should open in 2 days if the weather is nice.  The second main is
growing like wildfire and in probing for the extent of the root system I have
found roots up to 5 feet away from any foliage.  I just wish there was a
prize for overall plant size.
     I was unlucky in 1996 fighting with cucumber beetles carrying mosiac
virus.  My plants were odd and the pumpkins even odder looking, but I burned
the entire patch and sprayed the whole property to kill those damn beetles.
This year I have found three beetles so far and fortunately they were
nibbling on a giant sunflower.  As for the virus, time will tell, but not a
sign of it yet.  
                  Keeping everything crossed,  The Pumpkinguru  Brett
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