ffmb
Newly Registered
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2016 5:21 pm

Cucumber, Watermelon & Cantaloupe Issues :(

Hi. I have read a million articles and can't determine the pests of these issues. I think the cucumber, watermelon and cantaloupe had some sort of bacteria or fungus. I pulled the cucumber & cantaloupe up completely. Now I have the following questions.
IMG_3412.JPG
IMG_3414.JPG
When can I replant in that space again does the fungus or bacteria reside in that soil? If you think it's an actual insect that caused it can you also let me know hot to make sure the next thing I plant there doesn't get infected.

I also have a watermelon plant that has been affected but is still growing and has some green leaves for now. Should I pull that up too or can it recover?
IMG_3413.JPG

imafan26
Mod
Posts: 13962
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:32 am
Location: Hawaii, zone 12a 587 ft elev.

It looks fungal. Cucurbits and any plant with gray green fuzzy leaves are designed for places that don't rain a lot. It is best not to plant in the exact same spot but some fungal spores will hang around awhile and they are in the air and on plant residues. Some can even be on the seeds.

When you plant squash or cucumbers wait until the weather has sufficiently warmed up. To prevent splashing on the leaves use a drip system and mulch to help with the splashing. Make sure the plants get good air circulation around them and trellis them up if you can. If the weather turns wet and humid, proactively start a fungicide program. Neem or horticultural oil will work to help water wick off the leaves. Sulfur can also be used but you cannot use sulfur and and oil together or they will burn the plants. Other things help like baking soda as a dessicant and milk spray which changes the pH and coats the leaves to make it more inhospitable to fungal problems. You have to repeat sprays every 3-7 days while the weather conditions persist. Ultimately all of my cucurbits end up succumbing to fungal disease, but I usually get a decent crop anyway. If it rains every few days, it is hard to keep the fungal disease away even with preventive sprays.

ffmb
Newly Registered
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2016 5:21 pm

Thanks I thought it was I am glad to know what the exact issue is. I am in Florida so it's always warm but I just got drip irrigation things to help with the over head watering.

User avatar
feldon30
Senior Member
Posts: 209
Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2014 7:42 am
Location: Rock Hill, SC
Contact: Website

It's hard to tell from the photos but are you using any super-black dyed mulch? That can be bad news for melons. If not, then it sounds like you are getting great advice above re: fungus. Many folks place black plastic on their garden bed and then cut an "X" and plant the melons in the hole, then cover the plastic with straw or other non-dyed mulch.

MOFishin
Senior Member
Posts: 126
Joined: Thu May 05, 2016 1:33 pm
Location: Central Missouri 6A

imafan26 wrote:It looks fungal. Cucurbits and any plant with gray green fuzzy leaves are designed for places that don't rain a lot. It is best not to plant in the exact same spot but some fungal spores will hang around awhile and they are in the air and on plant residues. Some can even be on the seeds.

When you plant squash or cucumbers wait until the weather has sufficiently warmed up. To prevent splashing on the leaves use a drip system and mulch to help with the splashing. Make sure the plants get good air circulation around them and trellis them up if you can. If the weather turns wet and humid, proactively start a fungicide program. Neem or horticultural oil will work to help water wick off the leaves. Sulfur can also be used but you cannot use sulfur and and oil together or they will burn the plants. Other things help like baking soda as a dessicant and milk spray which changes the pH and coats the leaves to make it more inhospitable to fungal problems. You have to repeat sprays every 3-7 days while the weather conditions persist. Ultimately all of my cucurbits end up succumbing to fungal disease, but I usually get a decent crop anyway. If it rains every few days, it is hard to keep the fungal disease away even with preventive sprays.
Would it be ok, or a good idea, to use both a baking soda spray and a milk spray?



Return to “Vegetable Gardening Forum”