Melon Pests And Diseases

Melons are susceptible to a range of pests and diseases similar or the same as those of cucumbers and squashes. They also as in many plants get different diseases dependent on the climate they are grown in and the method of cultivation.

Because they are a plant that requires a warm climate they are often a greenhouse plant. In some places they manage outside by using a black plastic covering to warm up the soil to give the plant a good start. In very warm countries they use white plastic to reflect the heat so that the roots do now get too warm.

They are prone to aphids which can be washed off with a soapy solution.

Cucumber beetles (spotted or striped) can cause problems as they transfer a bacterial wilt from plant to plant as they eat the leaves. The wilt will cause the plants to wilt and die and will destroy the crop, there is no known cure and the solution is to remove and destroy the infected plants as soon as possible.

Powdery Mildew and Downey Mildew can affect melons and this will cause leaves to wither and die, it is not usually fatal but may limit the crop. In case of a severe infestation the crop can be sprayed with a suitable chemical. The best prevention is to use a resistant seed stock.

Anthracnose can occur and is recognised by a brown spot that goes steadily black and the centre falls out. The fruit can be poor and distorted. Remove the plant as soon as possible and destroy it as soon as possible. There are fungicides that can be used but the results are mixed. Get good seed as they can carry the disease.

Fusarium can affect the roots particularly on older plants, remove the plants and use resistant seed and rotate the crop as the seed can stay in the ground. Crop rotation or the change of soil in a greenhouse application will remove a lot of the disease and pest problems.

Also see How To Grow Melons

By Richard Allen -