MELONS
ITALY - 2004-2005

PREAMBLE:

 

Melons are members of the cucurbit family, which includes pumpkins, zucchini, cucumbers and squash,  all of which have similar growth requirements. Melon quality is  directly related to the sugar content of the fruit. High sugar content is achieved by avoiding all stress during the growing season. Stress comes from foliar diseases, insect pests, weeds, poor nutrition, and excesses or lack of water.

Melons prefer hot, sunny locations with fertile, well drained soils, and can be either transplanted or seeded directly but melons are particularly sensitive to root disturbance and growth will be retarded if transplants are not properly managed.

Melon seedlings are susceptible to damping off especially when planted into cold wet soils. Bacterial wilt and powdery mildew which causes powdery white spots to form on leaves and vines can infect melons. Several fungal leaf spot and fruit rot diseases can affect melons and the damage can include brown spots, tattered holes in leaves, sunken brown lesions on vines, and rotted fruit. Consequently the importance of maintaining healthy soils with balance macro and micro elements, is crucial to growing healthy, disease free crops. In instances where soils are deficient in some manor, stunted growth is clearly evident.

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OBJECTIVES:​

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• • Eliminate the negative effects caused by fusarium

  • Recover stressed and dying plants from exposure to excess water

  • Boost crop yields

  • Improve quality of fruit, particularly in sweetness and crispiness.

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CASE STUDY #1:

 

The clients melon crop was all but wiped out by heavy rains that submerged the crops in runoff water. The first two photos show areas of the crop where the plants are on the verge of dying with a majority of their leaves already dead.