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Bethlehem CT

On my grafted melon some of the vines have collapsed. when I cut them off, an orange ooze comes out from the cut sections of vine. Any one have an idea what this is?

7/25/2012 10:43:52 PM

The North Coast

Well, I have had a couple of top plant pathologists tell me that it is gummy stem blight even though other signs of GSB are not present. Non of the stumps have yet to make it to a lab but hopefully one will. GSB can come from 3 sources, the soil used during grafting, the seed can be contaminated, or by tools/equipment. The only other severe outbreak of GSB on grafted plants was in Tunisia in 2006...so to me it is a very curious problem. As a note, never in all my research have I run into anything saying anything about crown failures or compatibility issues. For me this problem was out of the blue and this season as a whole has made me question my passion for agricultural excellence. I do apologize to the growers for their problems...I would of never guessed it. That being said, the orange/red ooze is very typical to GSB and GSB only thus the conclusion was drawn. I am not sure it is GSB because it lacks other signs of GSB but who knows, it may express itself differently in some melons. Rookiesmom is working hand in hand with someone quite qualified from the local ag. department and I hope that if she has a complete failure it will be sent out.

7/26/2012 8:35:13 AM

The North Coast

I have been taking notes on the season and trying to find what is the common thread in everyone's experience and what I see is that Shintosa Camelforce is the only thing common. That is a bit of a bold accusation but it is possible. These hybrid rootstocks do have medium to high levels of GSB resistance, but that doesn't mean that the seed can't be a carrier. In the breading process the disease may of never showed up. How else can a rare disease affect my numerous batches of grafts, then GSB made a trip to a grafter in Michigan and then over to Connecticut? The easy conclusion to draw is not that our watermelon seeds were previously infected, not that we all used soil that was previously infected, or that we all used tools that were previously infected, but the rootstock seed is common. The picture gets even more clear now that you too are experiencing the same issues. This is the first year that I used SCF, all of my previous grafts were on C.ficifolia with no problems, the 306 "was maybe" grown on a Lagenaria siceraria and had no problems (obviously). I will not use any sqaush rootstock for a long time, maybe never. The only good use for my Shintosa is use it to try to recreate the disease which I may do, the rest will be burned. Honestly, the US debut of grafted CC watermelon was, in my opinion, far below my worst expectation. I just hope that this technology doesn't loose traction, this is the low point in the grafting of melons for sure. From here there is a whole lot of up...how else can you do it in 75 days?

7/26/2012 8:35:29 AM

Bethlehem CT

Nate my season for all my melons has been a serious disappointment as the voles continue to eat my roots. (Maybe that is how they are getting their water in such a dry year.) I have noticed that the voles have caused fewer problems on my grafted plant, I am not sure if this is due to the taste or to the fact that the root system is much larger in general. I have a bunch of ' Dixie queen' melons on shintosa rootstock too. I will evaluate those too.

7/26/2012 12:16:55 PM

formerly RGG

Nathan, you are right. There is a whole lot of upside to grafted CC plants in the future. We just have to figure out which is the best rootstock to use. I think it may take a grafted plant to bring the world record back to North America. I hope you will consider grafting more plants for some of us in the coming year. I just hope to get some a few weeks later in the season for 2013 as these plants grow so darn fast and I am now thinking that proper timing is a big issue. I think a long melon set on a young vine just as the weather is turning hot is the way to go for a world record shot. All that said, I may still have 2 or 3 very nice melons this year thanks to your help. Don't be down on yourself. You are a smart and gifted grafter and grower and your best days are ahead of you. And I truly believe that to be competitive with 300 plus pound watermelons, grafting is going to be very important.

7/26/2012 9:38:13 PM

The North Coast

Thanks TD. I will continue to work at determining what is going on with our crowns now and what may be the best way forward. While it was not it my original plans to graft CC next year, if any of the previous growers want to give it ago in 2013 I will help them get grafts into the garden in every way possible. TD, while you may or may not break 300 this year you have the most extreme patch that I have ever seen, you use every means possible to enhance growth, your passion and dedication are to be commended.

7/28/2012 8:02:24 AM

Bethlehem CT

Nate, oddly enough the row of ' Dixie Queen' melons on the Shintosa grafts seem to have a much healthier look to them .(than the other two rows of eating melons) They are in a patch that has been very dry and has not received any additional water. I am wondering if that could be a factor with the swollen diseased crowns on the CC's? The Dixie queen grafts are putting my other eating melons to shame, they definitely seem to be superior. My grafted CC was also one of my nicest plants at one point.

7/28/2012 8:36:20 AM

formerly RGG

There is no doubt in my mind that grafted plants have superior abilities. Many inferior results have occurred due to disease problems that were unpredictable. I think if we use a good bottle gourd rootstock like Gabriele Bartoli used, we will be able to grow some superior melons. As for me for this year; I may or may not have a nice melon or two, but I now think I have little or no chance of getting anywhere close to 300 pounds.

7/28/2012 10:18:05 AM

The North Coast

I really like the way a grafted melon performs. A person would have to have near perfect conditions to get that caliber of vigor with a non graft. I really hate saying better luck next year...but one thing is for sure, sterilization, sanitation, soil free mediums, and fungicides will be paramount.

7/28/2012 1:57:59 PM