Watermelon Diseases
- Disease Management Strategies.
- Anthracnose (Colletotrichum obiculare)
- Bacterial fruit blotch (Acidovorax citrulli)
- Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora citrullina)
- Downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis)
- Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.
- Gummy stem blight (Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum)
What are the common diseases of watermelon?
Watermelon: Diseases and Symptoms
- Downy mildew.
- Powdery mildew.
- Anthracnose.
- Alternaria leaf spot.
- Fusarium wilt.
- Bud necrosis disease.
- Cucumber mosaic disease.
- IPM for Watermelon.
What is killing my watermelon?
The most common reasons for watermelon plants dying include incorrect soil, watering issues, not enough sunlight, or planting issues. Temperature, weeds, diseases, and pests can also play a role.
How do you control the watermelon virus?
Crop rotation with non-host plants may help in avoiding the virus. Remove waste from previous cultures. Control insecticide use in order not to affect beneficial insects. Control ant populations that protect aphids with sticky bands.
What causes rotten in watermelon?
Blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium in the developing fruit. This may be due to a lack of calcium uptake from the soil or to extreme fluctuations in water supply. Incidence of blossom-end rot is also increased where there is a low ratio of calcium to certain other nutrients such as potassium and nitrogen.
Which fungicide is best for watermelon?
The best fungicides are Flint Extra, Cabrio, mancozeb, or chlorothalonil.
What causes yellowing of watermelon leaves?
Yellowing Leaves in Watermelon
Nitrogen Deficiency – Both young and old leaves can show signs of nitrogen deficiency and may appear any shade of lighter green to yellow. This is common during both dry spells and when plants simply aren’t being fed enough.
How do you keep a watermelon healthy?
Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged. Water at the vine’s base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering. Reduce watering once fruit are growing. Dry weather produces the sweetest melon.
How do I protect my watermelon plants?
All you need to do is place a melon cage over each of your watermelon plants. This common method of protection will not guard against insect damage but it is effective against rodents and birds. Place this melon cage over your plants to protect melon plants from birds and mammals.
Do watermelons need a lot of water?
Typically, watermelon plants need 1-2 inches of water per week so that the soil stays moist but not wet. If you’re not getting enough rain each week, make sure you give your plants an extra drink.
What to spray on watermelons for bugs?
Insecticides Insecticides used in watermelon are: abamectin, esfenvalerate, diazinon, dimethoate, carbofuran, dicofol, methomyl, permethrin, carbaryl, endosulfan, imidacloprid, bifenthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, thiamethoxam, spiromesifin, fenpropathrin, dinotefuran, spintor, vydate, and fulfill.
Why are my watermelon leaves turning yellow with brown spots?
Symptoms of cercospora on watermelon leaves begin as small, dark brown spots near the crown of the plant. If left untreated, the spots will spread to other leaves and develop a yellow halo. As the halos spread and become more numerous, they can join together and turn leaves yellow. Eventually, the leaves will drop.
What causes black spots on watermelon leaves?
Anthracnose – This seed-borne fungus is hard to detect initially, as it may only appear as small spots on your plants and fruits. As it grows, these spots expand and turn black or gray and new sunken areas may appear on your fruit.
What fertilizer is good for watermelon?
When fertilizing watermelon plants, use nitrogen based fertilizer at the onset. Once the plant begins flowering, however, switch to feeding the watermelon a phosphorus and potassium based fertilizer. Watermelons require ample potassium and phosphorus for optimal melon production.
What are sugar spots on watermelon?
Larger “webbing” or “sugar spots” means that the melon is seeping out sugar and is usually the sign of sweet melon. Look for dark & dull melons which is a sign that the melon is ripe. When the melon is shiny it is underripe.
How do u know when watermelon is bad?
The easiest way to tell is to check the skin for any soggy spots and patches of greenish-blue, black, or white mold. Even if the exterior looks OK, there’s a chance that the fruit could have gone bad. If the flesh has noticeable dark spots or is covered in anything slimey, you should toss it.
When is the best time to spray fungicide?
The higher the temperature and lower the relative humidity, the greater the opportunity for fungicide evaporation or volatilization. This can be avoided by spraying early in the morning when temperatures are lower and the relative humidity is higher.
How do you increase watermelon fruit size?
To maximize the size of the melon, water the plants regularly in deep water sessions that keep the soil moist. Side dress the Watermelon plants with fertilizer prepared for edible crops or fertilizer tea to feed the plants. Fertilizer encourages growth to produce large melons.
How do you treat watermelon leaf blight?
Fungicides that contain azoxystrobin, boscalid, chlorothalonil, copper hydroxide or potassium bicarbonate have shown to be very effective in controlling watermelon alternaria leaf spot when used regularly and in combination with proper sanitary practices.
How do you treat fusarium wilt in watermelon?
Few fungicides are available for Fusarium wilt control, but a soil application at transplant with prothioconazole (Proline 480 SC) can reduce disease in the field.
How do I make my watermelon sweeter when growing?
Heat brings out melons’ sweetness, so make sure to plant them in a location that warms up early in spring and stays hot through the end of September. The south side of a fence or wall is ideal as the structure will absorb heat and light from the sun and reflect it back onto the melons.