I agree with you Goodlife that the plants have picked up recently and put out a few more fruit for me. We are in the same region. I just started using sea-weed yesterday in an effort to give the big one a little more va va voom.
1066: here's the cover I had on my big one
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=157727i just knocked it up with what I could rustle up from the shed. It did the job but I could really do with the cover both now and probably for the nights for the whole season.
I am looking to build a frame for a 600' patch for next year. I will staple some builders plastic on and then take off at the end of the october and just hope that it doesnt get too brittle and end up all over the plot. Should be okay for 6 months. I can not really afford the proper cover and kids would only throw stones at it. Cheap and cheerfull although the frame will cost.
I will definatelty be using cloches on my squash next year.
I have more than one plant of each and they have performed differently at different locations.
Spaghetti Squash: 3 plants with 4-5 on each. This plant has excelled.
Bon Bon: 2 plants climbing, 2 and 3 fruits - good size, lots didnt make it
Thelma Sanders: 1 plant, very late start but 5+ fruits
Tuffy Sweet: As above but 6+ fruits
Hooligan: 3 plants giving 9, 1 and 4 fruits respectively
Pienna di napoli - 1 plant with two fruit that could still abort
Tromba di albenga - 2 plants - 1 week and 1 getting stronger with one good fruit and maybe more to come
butternut - no fruit yet but vining well. v.slow start
delicata - very slow start with 1 good fruit and maybe another coming
uchiki kuri - tiny plant with one tiny fruit but picking up