Cucurbits
Cucurbits are members of the Cucurbitaceae family. Although there are 825 species of cucurbits, there are only four major crops: cucumber, melon (e.g., cantaloupe), squash (including pumpkin), and watermelon. All four of these are grown commercially in North Carolina with the largest production in cucumbers and watermelons and significant acreage in squash and melons. Cucumbers in North Carolina are produced for two markets: processing (pickles) and slicing (fresh market). About two-thirds of the cucumber crop is grown for processing and the remainder for fresh market. Most cucumber production is in eastern North Carolina. A smaller center of production is in the mountains, south of Asheville. Watermelons and melons are grown in the Coastal Plain. Squash (including pumpkin) is grown throughout the state, but more concentrated in the Coastal Plain.
Some additional web sites:
- NC Watermelonn Association
- NC Pickle Producers Association
- Commercial Production of Pickling & Slicing Cucumbers in North Carolina
- Growing Pumpkins and Winter Squash by Jonathan R. Schultheis
- Summer Squash Production by Jonathan R. Schultheis
- Storing Winter Squash and Pumpkins by Jonathan R. Schultheis
- Trellised Cucumbers by Douglas C. Sanders and Jeanine M. Davis
- Fresh Market Production Cucumbers by Jonathan R. Schultheis
- Muskmelons (Cantaloupes) by Jonathan R. Schultheis
Disease factsheets
Anthracnose of cucurbits NCSU Factsheet Cornell Factsheet
Bacterial wilt of cucurbits identification Cornell Factsheet
Bacterial wilt of cucurbits management Cornell Factsheet
Cucurbit downy mildew NCSU Factsheet
Foliar diseases of cucurbits Cornell Factsheet
Fruit rots of squash and pumpkin Cornell Factsheet
Fusarium diseases of cucurbits Cornell Factsheet
Gummy stem blight NCSU Factsheet Cornell Factsheet
Identification of cucurbit diseases Clemson Factsheet
Management of cucurbit diseases Clemson Factsheet
Phytophthora blight of cucurbits Cornell Factsheet
Powdery mildew of cucurbits Cornell Factsheet
Scab of cucurbits Cornell Factsheet
Septoria leaf and fruit spot of cucurbits Cornell Factsheet
Virus diseases of cucurbits Cornell Factsheet
Resistant varieties
The following tables compile varieties from seed companies that claim to have disease resistance
Pickling cucumber Cornell Table
Slicing cucumber Cornell Table
Specialty melon Cornell Table
Muskmelon Cornell Table
Pumpkin Cornell Table
Watermelon Cornell Table
Winter squash Cornell Table
Yellow summer squash Cornell Table
Zucchini Cornell Table