MOFGA Pest Report 2005
22 June

(View List Of All 2005 Pest Reports)

This report will just be a quick note to explain what is turning out to be a very common problem.
--ES

Melons and other cucurbits

I have received many calls this week about dead, wilted or discolored melons and other cucurbits. It is an abiotic problem, i.e., not caused by a disease causing pathogen.

Once again we can point at the horrible weather that we had most of the spring. Two problems arose for transplanted melons. First, they were put out late and often too large for the containers they were in. It was still cold and wet and the soil was soaked. The roots did not grow, in fact they probably began to rot or at least lose ground. Then all of a sudden we had some warm days with a hot, summer-like sun and the plants could not get the water they needed and wilted and may have died.

Second, cucurbits are warm weather crops. They grow best when the temperature is between 65 and 80 degrees. They begin to get hurt when the temperature falls below 50. The past week we had a few nights in the low 40s and the plants have really suffered. Leaves have become vary pale or bronzed between the veins and the edges have become brown.

Will the plants that are not dead make a come back? Some may, some won't. I do not have a good answer.

(About the author: Eric is MOFGA’s Technical Services Director, essentially an organic "extension agent". He can be reached at the MOFGA office to answer your questions about farming and gardening. Link to MOFGA Contact Page, or email Eric directly.)