Early symptoms of Fusarium wilt appear as dull gray-green leaves which wilt during the hottest time of the day. While plants recover at night, the symptoms eventually become permanent over time. Infected plants will collapse and die.
Florida watermelons
Powdery Mildew Detected in North Florida Watermelon
North Florida Watching for Powdery Mildew
Florida has a rapid diagnostic program in place for farmers to use. If they suspect that their crop has powdery mildew, the grower should reach out to their county Extension agent who will help them send a sample to the lab.
Gummy Stem Blight on watermelon and cucumbers
According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, Gummy stem blight disease has increased in cucurbit fields across southwest Florida in recent weeks. It has become the predominate disease in some watermelon fields in the area. The disease remains moderate in cucumber crops on the east coast.
Specialty Crop News | Watermelon Anthracnose
Outbreaks of Anthracnose in watermelon and cucumber have occurred in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Delaware and New York recently. University of Georgia Plant Pathologists discuss management of Anthracnose in Cucuribts.
Freezing temperatures impact Florida Watermelon producers
Fall Watermelon Production Not Recommended in North Florida
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences scientists do not recommend that Florida watermelon growers grow watermelons in the fall. This assessment is attributed to the multiple variables growers must overcome including weather, high disease pressure and whitefly infestations.
Whitefly infestations vary across Florida
The October newsletter from the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline reports that whitefly infestations are widely present across central Florida. They are low to moderate in cucumber and squash. Populations are very low in watermelon.
