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26-08-2003, 03:03 PM

(Mike Lyle) wrote in
om:

Victoria Clare wrote in message
.240.6...
My melon plants were doing OK in the greenhouse until about 3 weeks
ago, when they started to wilt and dry up.

I have been watering enthusiastically every day, so I don't think
it's lack of water. Could it be that the fierce sun has overwhelmed
them? Surely melons must grow in sunnier climes than a Cornish
greenhouse?

They have plenty of melons on, but it doesn't look like they are
going to ripen now. :-(

I wonder if you may have a root rot: if the root system's reduced,
more watering will make it worse, as the plants won't be able to take
up the water.

You might try a suitable fungicide round the bases of the plants, and
move to foliar feeding. Won't do any harm, at any rate. I'm not sure
if replacing some of the top compost with clean stuff is feasible, as
I don't know if melons will now make new roots at that level.

Thanks Mike
I think they are too far gone for this year (pity!), but when I dig the
beds over this autumn I'll apply a fungicide.

Victoria