Rain Great! Mildew not Great!

I'm getting hit with Powdery and Downy mildew on my cucumbers, watermelon, pumpkins, and squash. the Marketmore 76 cucumber seem to have suffered the least and the pumpkin was the first to show signs of disease. I picked my two watermelon even thought they were too small. I hope they will be ripe enough to be sweet. I don't think I'm going to any small sugar pumpkins it suffered the worst. I think I will try the Seminole pumpkins next year. I can't find if they will be good in a pumpkin pie, so I guess I will be the tester of that next year. :) The cucumbers are still producing as is the squash, it's just a matter of time they will stop. I think next year I will also try the mixture of tsp. of baking soda, a couple drops of soap and neem oil and see if it prevents the disease. I read a few articles that will stated this mixture would help prevent it if done  every week or after rains before the disease shows up. The winter veggies are all looking good and the broccoli is really taking off. I'm still putting on Spinisad since I seen a few chew marks.

Harvesting Cucmbers!

Cucumber Harvest

The Suyo Long and Marketmore 76 cucumbers are both maturing now and they are delicious. I still only have two watermelons,but they are getting bigger. I got squash starting, but no pumpkins yet. I'm a little wooried, the pumpkin plant seems to be suffering from power mildew. I cut off the infected leaves hoping to beat it from speading. I don't care for Neem oil, but I may have to use it if the mildew keeps spreading.   

Another Good Guy - Long-Legged Fly



Long-Legged Fly



A Good Guy



Bee Pollinating Watermelon Flower



Flowers Everywhere

Watermelon 2013

The cucumbers, watermelon and pumpkin are bursting with flowers. The watermelon is getting some good size fruit. The squash bug seem to be staying to a minimum and I have been keeping the plants sprayed with Spinsad every week since I have seen some moths in the plants. It still seems to be bug season, but manageable.