Plectosporium Blight of Cucurbits
Plectosporium blight (formerly called Microdochium blight) is a disease of pumpkins and squash that was first reported in Tennessee in 1993. It is caused by the fungus Plectosporium tabacinum (formerly Microdochium tabacinum). In 1994 the disease ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Powdery Mildew of Cucurbits
Powdery mildew affects all cucurbits, but most often damages cantaloupes, squash, and pumpkins. Two different fungi, Erysiphe cichoracearum and Sphaerotheca fuliginea, can cause powdery mildew on cucurbits. Both fungi grow as a white, powdery ... [... more]
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Downy Mildew of Cucurbits
Downy mildew, caused by the fungus Pseudoperonospora cubensis probably causes more damage to cucurbits than any other disease in Virginia, particularly during extended periods of cool, moist weather. The disease is generally a problem from mid to ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Germinating Seedless Watermelons
This topic was presented at a recent meeting of watermelon researchers in Lexington, Ky., by one of the breeders from Novartis Seed Co. In view of the rising popularity of seedless watermelons it may be time to revisit this subject with growers. ... [... more]
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Seedless Watermelon Variety Trial in Southeast Virginia
This paper reports on an effort to identify varieties of seedless or triploid watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) for commercial production in the tidewater region of Southeast Virginia. The criteria used to evaluate the varieties were (1) earliness ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Organic Production of Watermelons
Andy Hankins Extension Specialist Alternative Agriculture Virginia State University Seedless and seeded watermelons can be grown without the use of agricultural chemicals, for organic markets. Compared to many other fruit and vegetable crops, ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
New Watermelon Varieties
With the re-entry of two commercial seed companies into the watermelon seed market, there were a number of new varieties to evaluate in 1997. Twenty of the newer cultivars were included in a replicated yield trial at Painter this past summer. ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Pollination of Melon Crops
A new strategy for pollinating melon crops is being explored in an on-farm trial in the tidewater region of southeast Virginia. Watermelon and cantaloupe are targeted for expanded production in this area. Both are members of the cucurbit family ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
An Early Cantaloupe for 1996
The 1995 Cantaloupe variety trial was not the most successful experiment of the season. Early season rainfall flooded the beds and resulted in stressed and stunted plants. In spite of the stress, one of the early season varieties appeared to be ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Cucumber Beetle Management in Melons
Cucumber beetles can be a major pest of cucurbit crops in Virginia, particularly cantaloupes and cucumbers. This was displayed in dramatic fashion this spring at the Eastern Shore AREC. In early May 2002 we put transplants of Gallia melons ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
CANTALOUPE VARIETIES
The harvest of the cantaloupe varieties has been completed at Painter and we are far enough into the season that we have seen three new cantaloupe varieties and one canary melon in two different plantings. There were ten entries this year. The ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Testing Tells the Story
As reported in "The Grower" magazine, Vol. 34, No. 2, Feb. 2001 Cantaloupe growers can increase yield, sweetness and shelf life by keeping track of nutrient levels in the plant leaves throughout the growing season. "This is not new [... more]
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