Good afternoon,
I thank you in advance for your help. I am growing a sugar cube cantalope in 7 gallon grow bag using Scott's potting soil. I'm grow...
Knowledgebase
Help to ID cantalope disease #878602
Asked July 24, 2024, 2:37 PM EDT
Good afternoon,
I thank you in advance for your help. I am growing a sugar cube cantalope in 7 gallon grow bag using Scott's potting soil. I'm growing another one in ground in a different area that's doing great. The last few weeks I've noticed some left spotting not too bad but over the last few days it has gotten progressively worse. A lot of leaves get these spots & the entire leaf will turn a pale yellow like it's nitrogen deficient. I use compost, blood & bone meal at planting time. They have all been given fish emulsion too. I grow lots of tomatoes, strawberries herbs, & flowers also. I've not seen any pests on this plant but have seen many bees, praying mantis, etc..I live in crisfield we've had quite a bit of rain, maybe that made it worse?? I've googled til my fingers hurt. I can't tell if it's DM, PM, leaf blight? I'd like to know how to best treat it. I don't like to use general pesticides or just randomly treat. I have tried baking soda spray at 1 Tbspn per gallon then moved up to 2. Problem has just gotten worse. Any help / advice u can give is greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Lisa D.
Grow bags dry out faster than in-ground plants and plastic pots, if this one is being watered more often to compensate, it's probably low on nitrogen unless fertilizer has been used regularly (plus, melons do best with some fertilizer applied once fruits start to form). Even though you mention fertilizing at planting time, have you used any more recently, or if so has it contained enough nutrients (micronutrients plus N-P-K)?
Do not continue with baking soda; if anything is used, only apply a registered fungicide product that is labeled for use on edible plants; it can't cure existing infections, but might protect uninfected new growth.