Researchers From Clemson University Offer Tips On Managing Watermelon Diseases

Gummy stem blight, powdery mildew, and downy mildew are three big diseases watermelon producers want to keep at bay. Researchers at Clemson University’s Cooperative Extension have put together a guide to help them be successful.

Knowing the symptoms of each disease is as important as knowing when to spray. According to the researchers’ step-by-step guide to spraying, growers should follow these four steps:

1. Start spraying when vines start to run, no later than the first (male) blooms open.
2. From vine run until mid-May, spray every 10 days
3. After mid-May or when powdery and downy mildew typically show up, spray every week through harvest regardless of weather.
4. Do not stop spraying until one week before the final pick. Downy or powdery mildew can attack any time a crop goes more than a week without a fungicide.