Preplant

Select the field:

• Consider soil type, cropping and pest history, and plantback restrictions from the previous crop.
• Consider crop rotation for fields with high populations of problematic weeds and difficult pathogens/diseases such as:
  • Fusarium crown and foot rot
  • Fusarium wilt (cantaloupe)
  • Fusarium wilt (watermelon)
  • Vine disease decline (Monosporascus cannonballus)
  • Root knot nematodes
• Take a soil sample for:
  • Nutrient, salinity, and pH analysis to determine field suitability and soil nutrient management. Manage salty soils to reduce risk of charcoal rot.
  • Root knot nematodes if there is a history of galls on roots of previous crops. If soil sampling indicates the presence of root knot nematodes, the soil should be treated according to the Pest Management Guidelines.

Clean equipment and tractors between fields to prevent the spread of some soilborne pathogens and weed seeds.

Identify a planting date that permits harvesting before frost. Consider the following:

• If planting into cover crops or no-till fields with heavy residue, additional germination time may be required, as these soils tend to be cooler.
• Early-planted melons often avoid competition from barnyardgrass. Late plantings in the San Joaquin Valley for fall harvest and fall-planted melons in desert areas have higher insect and disease pressure, especially viruses.

Prepare the field in the fall if a spring planting is planned.

• Cultivate crop residues.
• Manage weeds.
  • Preirrigate the field to germinate weed seeds and cultivate, or apply an herbicide, or in special situations, a soil fumigant according to the Cucurbits Pest Management Guidelines.
  • Consider a fallow bed herbicide treatment on pre-formed beds to prevent winter weed growth and allow early spring melon planting.
  • If planting into a cover crop or utilizing conservation tillage or no-till systems, apply a burn-down herbicide prior to planting and before cover crop reaches 1 ft tall.
• If using soil fumigants, for weeds or other pests, check the label for details on the minimum time required between application and planting to prevent crop damage.
• Apply fertilizer, lime, gypsum, or other soil amendments based on soil test results.  Most cucurbits grow best at soil pH of 6.0–7.0. 
  • If liming is required, applications should be made well in advance of planting to give soil acidity time to adjust.
• Determine bed size and planting configuration.
• Prepare planting beds with proper drainage.
• Choose an irrigation system and schedule.
• Consider the use of solarization or plastic mulches for pest suppression.

Consider selecting a hybrid based on pest history. Purchase seed or transplants from a reliable source to ensure quality, indexed, pathogen-negative seed or pest- and disease-free plants.

Use treated seed:

• If seedling root rots (damping-off), seedcorn maggots, or wireworms were problematic in the previous crop.
• In no-till, conservation-till, and when planting through cover crops to reduce the potential for seedling disease and insect problems.

Set out sticky traps for silverleaf whiteflies, green peach aphid, and melon aphid.