I have two Ogden Melon plants in my greenhouse and one of these plants has
what appears to be leaf curl on both the older leaves and the young emerging
leaves.

Looking closely at these leaves I find lots of minute black deposits on the
underside - smaller than black fly and not moving.

Can anyone suggest what this might be and how to eradicate?

Many thanks.
--
Jamps.

In article , "jamps" writes:
| I have two Ogden Melon plants in my greenhouse and one of these plants has
| what appears to be leaf curl on both the older leaves and the young emerging
| leaves.
|
| Looking closely at these leaves I find lots of minute black deposits on the
| underside - smaller than black fly and not moving.
|
| Can anyone suggest what this might be and how to eradicate?

Quite possibly red spider mite. I spray with soft soap (Savona),
which is effective against pretty well every insect/mite except
scale, but melons may be one of the plants that doesn't like it.

The alternative is washing-up liquid solution with a dash of
methylated spirits, but the same plants that don't like soft soap
won't like that, either.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article , "jamps"
writes:
I have two Ogden Melon plants in my greenhouse and one of these
plants has what appears to be leaf curl on both the older leaves
and the young emerging leaves.

Looking closely at these leaves I find lots of minute black
deposits on the underside - smaller than black fly and not moving.

Can anyone suggest what this might be and how to eradicate?

Quite possibly red spider mite. I spray with soft soap (Savona),
which is effective against pretty well every insect/mite except
scale, but melons may be one of the plants that doesn't like it.

The alternative is washing-up liquid solution with a dash of
methylated spirits, but the same plants that don't like soft soap
won't like that, either.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Thank you - I will try first one then the other if that doesn't work.
I don't want to lose the plant as I already have three egg sized melons.
--
Jamps.

In article ,
"jamps" writes:
|
| Thank you - I will try first one then the other if that doesn't work.
| I don't want to lose the plant as I already have three egg sized melons.

Be careful. It can kill some plants.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
"jamps" writes:

Thank you - I will try first one then the other if that doesn't
work.
I don't want to lose the plant as I already have three egg sized
melons.

Be careful. It can kill some plants.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Too late!
I've already sprayed! Only one plant though so the bigger plant is in
reserve!
--
Jamps.