Explore management recommendations for Florida watermelon growers from UF/IFAS for combating watermelon diseases.
UF/IFAS put together the “UF AgriGator Spray Program: Watermelon” publication. It’s a resource aimed at Extension agents and Florida Watermelon growers, focusing on an array of topics concerning managing watermelon diseases. The information comes from research, such as pesticide efficacy trials, as well as from watermelon production experts. See the advice for management considerations below.
Management for Watermelon Diseases
The publication shared the following recommendations for managing watermelon diseases:
- “Follow a three-to-five-year non-cucurbit crop rotation to reduce disease. Fields with a Fusarium wilt history should use non-host rotations of more than five years. Avoid double-cropping cucurbit crops using the same plastic, as this can lead to significant disease issues in the right environments.
- Inspect transplants. Healthy transplants are critical to managing gummy stem blight, Fusarium wilt, and bacterial diseases, since these diseases can be spread by seed. Inspecting transplants and removing diseased seedlings, including symptomless plants surrounding them, will reduce risk.
- Spray early and consistently to efficiently manage disease. Fungicides are more effective when applied preventatively than as a cure.
- Rotate fungicide chemistries to minimize the risk of selecting for resistant fungal pathogens. The Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) has developed a number and letter code that classifies fungicides’ modes of action. Rotating different modes of action is an important step in prolonging a fungicide’s effectiveness.
- Select fungicides based on the target pathogen. Many fungicides can control multiple diseases, but in general, they are most effective for specific pathogens. Accurate diagnostics are important when selecting proper fungicide products or developing a management plan.”
Read our next blog about common watermelon diseases and their treatments.
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.