Problem in the Watermelon Patch

Everything was going well until I noticed that some of the leaves were turning yellow, then they shrivel up and die.

Here's how the leaves start out:

Then they advance to this stage. Eventually, the edges start turning brown and then they start shriveling up and dying.

I know I'm repeating myself but it looks and sounds like Spider Mites. As you know, they suck the juices out of the leaves and they shrivel up and die. It looks like it could be Mg deficience, that can be fixed with Epsom Salts BUT that doesn't usually cause the leaves to die.
Good Lord its 9:00 pm and 90* and that Peacock will not shut up!

LOL LOL LOL

Thanks for the giggle this morning!

We spray weekly with stuff for spider mites, but I'll have to look and see if I can see any on the plants. I don't think it's that, though, because it seems to only be affecting 1 vine. However, I could be wrong.

Here's a shot of the backside of one of the leaves. Could it be blight of some kind? There are some tomatoes planted a few feet away.

I see white "spots" or something on the bottom of the leaves. Do you see it or is that just me? I'm going to go look something up. Yes, in a book not google.

It does look like it could be blight here is a link. I did end up using google after all.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/watermelon/foliar.photos.html

Okay, so how do I treat it organically, or can I?

Well, have you determined what it is? I have an idea, but since I'm just comparing pictures its hard for me to tell.

Well, no, not really. LOL I really can't tell from the pics. I think I'm going to go ahead and sprinkle some cornmeal under them which will help if it's a fungus.

It couldn't hurt. I was thinking it looked like ALTERNARIA LEAF SPOT or Powder Mildew Cornmeal couldn't hurt and both of those a fungus.
Good Luck

What's the deal with cornmeal for fungus?

This message was edited Jun 28, 2010 1:12 AM

Ground horticultural cornmeal is an anti-fungal. Applying it on the ground under your plants helps control the fungus. You can even make a tea with it and use it as a foliar spray on your plants affected by fungal diseases.

Lisa, I don't think it's powdery mildew. I was leaning more to the leaf spot as well.

I've also read on DG about using milk for similiar reasons.

This message was edited Jun 28, 2010 1:53 PM

This message was edited Jun 28, 2010 2:03 PM

Where can you buy horticultural cornmeal?

You can buy it at a feed store or an organic garden center.