Your Cantaloupe plant is probably dying due to Alternaria leaf blight/Cercospora leaf spots if you see brown spots on the leaves. Overwatering may prove harmful to your Cantaloupe plant too. Whiteflies and Spider mites also cause yellowing of the foliage. If the plant is wilting and dying, it may be infected by the Cucurbit bacterial wilt disease.
Cantaloupe is commonly called the Sweet Melon, Rockmelon, or Spanspek. Cantaloupe plants are grown mainly for the fruits.
Cantaloupes come to harvest in 80-90 days. This is an annual plant so, you need to plant it every year if you want constant produce.
Like all other plants, the Cantaloupe plant has its own share of diseases/disorders. Let’s see what they are and how to fix them.
Cantaloupe leaves turning brown
Cantaloupe leaves turn brown due to Sunscalding, herbicide injury, or natural senescence. Brown spots are seen on Cantaloupe leaves due to Alternaria Leaf Blight/Cercospora Leaf spot diseases. Squash bug infestation also causes the leaves to turn brown.
Alternaria leaf blight in Cantaloupe
This is a fungal disease and starts off with yellow-brown spots on the leaves with yellow-green halos. This is seen in the older leaves of the Cantaloupe plant.
These spots enlarge and merge to become large lesions. Necrotic patches develop, and the leaves curl and eventually die.
This disease is quite common in warmer areas with frequent rainfall.
To prevent
You need to rotate crops every two years with plants other than cucurbits. Keep the garden bed clear of leaf debris.
Try to not wet the leaves of the plant. When watering the plant water only the bottom of the plant.
Cercospora leaf spot in Cantaloupe
Brown spots are seen on the leaves of Cantaloupe when the plant is infected by Cercospora leaf spot disease. Cercospora leaf spot is also a fungal disease that survives on plant debris and spreads by wind and water splashes.
As soon as you spot a diseased plant dispose of it carefully. Crop debris should also be removed to prevent infestation in the next crop.
Tip: Inspect your plants from time to time to prevent large-scale infestation that affects the whole crop.
Squash Bugs on Cantaloupe
Squash bugs are 1.4-1.6cm in length and mainly infect the plants of the ‘Cucurbitaceae’ family. These bugs thrive in leaf debris.
Squash bugs lay masses of eggs on the undersides of the leaves. Adults can be found in plant debris and near Cantaloupe’s crown.
Squash bug control
- As soon as you confirm these bugs’ presence, try to wipe them off the leaves of your Cantaloupe.
- Place a board/shingle in your garden at night. In the morning you’ll see that there are a lot of bugs on that board/shingle. Dispose of that shingle/board.
- Spray insecticides like Sevin when the eggs are hatching.
Why are my Cantaloupe leaves turning yellow?
Cantaloupe leaves may turn yellow due to nutrient deficiencies, root problems, fungal diseases, excess moisture, low soil pH, insufficient sunlight, or natural aging.
Overwatering
Overwatering is probably the most common reason for leaf yellowing. You need to remember that Sweet melon plants thrive in wet soil (not waterlogged!).
How often to water Cantaloupe?
Water consciously and if needed, check the soil with your fingers and water only when the soil is dry up to 2 inches.
Use a sprinkler irrigation system as it helps supply the plant with just enough water if you can time it correctly.
Whitefly Cantaloupe
Whiteflies are a group of over 1500 species of insects that feed on the undersides of the leaves. Whitefly populations increase in the spring season.
You may want to spray something before the spring to prevent a large-scale infestation. The direct damage of whiteflies is minimal but they do transfer viruses.
This makes whiteflies a great threat to Sweet melon plantations. Whiteflies evolve quickly and thus have developed a resistance to many pesticides.
How to get rid of Whiteflies on Cantaloupe
- Hang yellow, sticky cards around the vulnerable plants to identify their presence early.
- If you do see whiteflies, you may want to dislodge them with a strong stream of water.
- You can control whiteflies biologically by introducing ladybugs and lacewing larvae.
- If the infestation is severe, you can use insecticidal soap to get rid of these pesky pests.
- You can spray Neem oil if you want to use an organic alternative.
Spider mites
Spider mites are tiny insect pests that are almost invisible to the naked eye. One can identify their presence by the webcasts they leave behind on and around the leaves.
Water your Cantaloupe plant adequately as Spider mites prefer dry conditions. Once you notice them try to wash them off with a strong stream of water.
Mosaic virus
Cantaloupe plants are also susceptible to mosaic viruses. This virus causes yellowing and distortion of the leaves. Leaves turn mottled yellow.
This virus is spread from one plant to another by aphids. So, if you could control aphids you probably could control this virus.
Dispose of the infected plants as there’s no way to treat them. Sanitize the tools you used on the infected plants. Plant resistant varieties in the future.
Why is my Cantaloupe fruit turning yellow?
Cantaloupe fruit can turn yellow because of overwatering. Yellow-colored spots or fruit yellowing is seen when you overwater your Cantaloupe plant.
Along with overwatering, cooler temperatures cause the yellowing of the fruits and foliage. You need to water your Cantaloupe plants consciously.
How often do you water a Cantaloupe plant?
Your Cantaloupe plant only needs one to two inches of water per week. Growing rock melons love moisture, but hate waterlogged soils.
Water the soil directly and do not wet the leaves to avoid fungal infections of the leaves. Reduce your watering once the fruits begin to grow.
Why are my Cantaloupe plants not producing fruit?
Cantaloupe plants may fail to produce fruit due to poor pollination, low temperatures, over-fertilization, water stress, or heavy shading.
Male flowers are seen first on the plant. They mature right when the plant produces the female flowers.
If there aren’t enough female flowers on the plant then the plant fails to produce fruits. Male flowers are characterized by a straight stalk.
Female flowers are characterized by a small fruit like structure beneath the straight stalk. One should be able to differentiate the two.
Provide your Cantaloupe plant with sufficient water and minerals so that it can produce a good number of flowers.
Why is my Cantaloupe rotting on the vine?
Cantaloupe fruits rot on the vine due to overwatering. Rotting of the Cantaloupe fruits is also seen when it’s infected by Anthracnose.
Even some kinds of insects might rot the fruits of Cantaloupe. Rotting on the vine proves to be very damaging to the produce.
To prevent such situations you may want to rotate the crop once every two years. This is essential in the case of Cucurbits like Cantaloupe.
Cantaloupe plant wilting
Cantaloupe plant wilts due to the Cucurbit bacterial wilt disease. This disease is transferred from an infected plant to a healthy plant by striped and spotted cucumber beetles. Cantaloupe plant also wilts when it’s infected by Verticillium wilt, a fungal disease.
The entire plant or a branch of the plant wilts in the initial stage. Such leaves turn light green and wilt during the day and recover at night.
The infected plant’s leaves eventually turn yellow/brown at the tips. Such plants wither and eventually die. Wilt progression depends on the plant cultivar.
There’s no way to cure this disease. Dispose of the infected plant to prevent a large-scale infestation of the crop.
Verticillium Wilt in Cantaloupe
Verticillium wilt is a fungal disease that affects cantaloupe vines. It is caused by the soil-borne fungi Verticillium dahliae and V. albo-atrum.
The fungi infect the plant through the roots and spread through the water-conducting tissues, causing the leaves to wilt and turn brown.
Affected plants may die quickly or linger with reduced vigor and yield. The fungi overwinter in soil debris and can persist for many years.
Crop rotation, soil solarization, resistant varieties, and fungicides can help manage verticillium wilt in cantaloupe. Careful control of insects and weeds is also recommended as they can spread the disease.
What is eating my Cantaloupe?
Chipmunks, Deer, and Woodchuck eat Cantaloupe fruits. You can erect scary dolls to keep these animals away from your garden.
Will squirrels eat Cantaloupe?
Yes, squirrels also eat Cantaloupe fruits with passion. This situation may change from place to place though. My squirrels love to eat Cantaloupes while my friends don’t.
Ants in my Cantaloupe
Ants do not and can not eat healthy Cantaloupe fruits. They just devour the fruits that were already damaged by pests. So, you don’t need to worry about ants.
Can hens eat Cantaloupe?
Yes, chickens eat Cantaloupes. Chickens are known to eat all types of Cucurbit fruits. So, having chickens and Cantaloupes in the same garden is not a good idea.
You may want to surround your Cantaloupe plants with a net to protect the fruits from squirrels and chickens.
Cantaloupe seedlings dying
Common causes of cantaloupe seedling death include damping off disease, cold temperatures, poor soil conditions, insufficient sunlight, water stress, nutrient deficiencies, insect pests, and transplant shock.
Damping off disease is caused in seedlings by fungal infections. Pythium is the most common pathogen while other fungal pathogens can cause this too.
Leaves and Seedlings show signs of wilt and become mushy eventually. Sometimes the seedlings even fail to emerge due to this infection.
Use sterile soil/potting mix to grow healthy seedlings. Do not overwater the tender seedlings. Providing optimal growing conditions can help prevent these issues.
Cantaloupe leaves turning white
White/Gray powdery growth is seen on Cantaloupe leaves when the plant is infected by Powdery Mildew, a fungal disease.
The disease thrives in warm, humid conditions. Improve air circulation and avoid wetting foliage when watering.
Infected parts of the plant get stunted and distorted. Reduces photosynthesis, weakens plants, and lowers yield. Spreads rapidly by wind-blown spores.
Affects all growth stages but is most damaging in mature Cantaloupe plants. Management includes planting resistant varieties, crop rotation, maintaining air flow, proper spacing, and fungicides.
Cultural practices like drip irrigation, weed control, and sanitation help prevent disease spread. Powdery mildew resistant varieties and fungicides are key for effective control in cantaloupe production.
Is Cantaloupe rotting on the vine?
Cantaloupe rots on the vine due to excess moisture, insect damage, or sunscalding. Nutrient deficiency can also cause Cantaloupe fruit to rot on the vine.
- Excess moisture – Wet foliage and high humidity encourage fungal and bacterial fruit rots. Avoid overhead watering and improve airflow.
- Insect damage – Feeding by cucumber beetles, aphids, and other pests can create entry points for pathogens. Control insects early.
- Sunscald – Hot sun can burn ripening fruit, allowing decay to develop. Provide afternoon shade for fruits.
- Nutrient deficiencies – Lack of calcium in particular can lead to weaker rind and increased rot. Fertilize based on soil test recommendations.
- Dense planting – Overcrowding restricts air movement, keeping foliage wet and spreading diseases. Space rows and plants appropriately.
- Excess nitrogen – High nitrogen levels stimulate foliage growth over fruit production, increasing susceptibility. Moderate fertilizer use.
- Poor pollination – Inadequate seed set leads to misshapen, cracked fruits prone to rotting. Ensure sufficient bee activity during flowering.
Happy Growing 🙂