I'll put in my vote for Tromboncino too. This is the first year with it, after previous years growing zucchini and yellow crookneck. Both succumbed to Squash vine borers and squash bugs. The only zuccini that tastes good to me are the heirloom Italian varieties, not the bland good-looking varieties most people plant, but they are absolute insect pest magnets. Crookneck survived for quite a bit longer and tasted good, but still ended up being destroyed by borers. I have trellised Tromboncino. It grows vigorously; the young squash taste good; and it has (so far) had no insect problems, while a cucumber right next to it has been devasted by cucumber beetles. I plan to make this my standard squash variety from now on.

Yes, I'd like to know that, too, particularly for Mexican BBs. The dye effectively kills Mediterranean fruit flies through its photoactive characteristics, too. Red dye #28 has been determined to be safe for human consumption for many decades. The dye is called a "light-activated insecticide", meaning that the insect must first ingest it and then be exposed to sunlight through the insect's transparent gut. The light excites molecules inside the insect, which is believed to cause a chemical reaction that kills the insect. The trick for Mexican bean beetles would be to ID a lure or "feeding stimulant" to which the dye could be added so they'd ingest it, maybe some sort of "wax bean party cocktail"! To continue about the medfly, in the US, a yellow dye is added to the red dye to make it more lethal to the flies: SureDye works by ingestion and is composed of the red dye and D&C Yellow 7, 8. The yellow dye is added to the mixture to concentrate light inside a fly's transparent belly and thereby increase the transfer of light energy to the red dye. Chemically, the red dye is phloxine B and the yellow is uranine. They are similar in structure and members of the xanthene chemical group. SureDye is the product of PhotoDye International, a three-year-old company based in Linthicum, Maryland. Scientists do not know exactly how this seemingly benign dye, used in lipsticks and edible drugs such as antacids, kills flies, but they do know that it must be ingested by a fly and that the satiated fly's gut must then be exposed to some level of light for it to have its toxic effect. Tests indicate that phototoxic dyes can be used selectively against fruit flies, since other organisms lack the transparent guts necessary for light to reach the dye. It was found as early as 1928 that mosquito larva and some leaf miners could be killed through the absorption of photoactive dyes. Apparently, if mixed with sugar water it kills fire ants, too. Researchers in Hawaii are experimenting with developing lures and traps for the medflies. Here is a link that might be useful: To Zap Medflies -- Red Dye, Updated Traps

SVBs also target pumpkins, but not melons. I'm not sure whether they like cucumbers or not, as I've never grown cukes before this year. (that is, never successfully grown them - powder mildew killed them off in Minnesota when I tried) It's my feeling that by the time the plant is yellowing, it's likely too late. I look at the base of the stem every couple of days and look for frass, which is their poop or what they've dug out and pushed behind themselves and out the hole they came in through. It looks something like wet sawdust. If I can't see the grub just inside the hole, I feel up and down the stem an inch or so feeling for the stem to be softer. The soft direction is the direction it bored, which is usually "up" (away from the soil). I feel for where the softness ends and go about a half inch above that and stab into the stem and cut about a half inch slit. I twist the knife to see inside a bit if I can. If I stabbed the worm, it's usually a bit juicy (ick!) If the stem is really solid there, then maybe I stabbed too high and I'll go back an inch to the soft area and try again. Then work my way down back to the hole. I've found the grub will often try to back out away from my cutting and sometimes I'll see it in the hole and get it there. If the borer (or multiple borers) have girdled the stem all around, then it's a goner and just pull it up. Don't forget to do an autopsy to kill any borers inside of it. A sharp pocketknife or an exacto knife do a good job. I've seen pictures of people using scissors, but I can't see using them and not doing a whole lot of damage to the stem. SVBs are usually in the stem, but sometimes you'll find them in a leaf stalk and once I found them in a fruit (acorn squash, incidentally).

Writersblock, promiscuous is right on!! This vine is intent on world domination!! It's worse than mint or virginia creeper! I did find the round zucchini types online; first time I knew about them. Thinking I might like to try growing some next year. Rusty, I would but haven't seen them for ages. Not sure if they are still living there. So far the vine has traveled over the fence from the back neighbors; all through my back garden and then over another fence into my side garden and was headed up to the front garden when the person who cuts my grass headed it off! Our temps are going back into the high 60's to even 70's this week so I will keep tabs on how big these things are getting. I plan to let them grow until our first frost is predicted. I don't think they are ready to pick yet as the rind still seems a bit soft. Colleen, I looked up Kent pumpkin and you are right it does look very similar and I love pumpkin. So will be very happy if that is what I have. Thanks. ;)