Over the past week, there have been several new reports of cucurbit downy mildew in North Carolina and Georgia. While these areas are a long distance from Southern Ontario, it is still very important to be vigilant in our approach to this disease.
The relative importance of this disease depends on the type of cucurbit. Cucumbers are extremely susceptible, followed by muskmelons and watermelons. While infections may occur in squash and pumpkins, the disease tends to be less virulent in these crops.
In the past few years, cucumber fields grown from transplants were often among the first fields to be identified with downy mildew. The following steps can help to reduce the risk of infection in these crops. Continue Reading »
