I Am Sure I Am Doing Something Wrong But What?

Does it look like this?

are the melons up off of the soil in straw or mulch?

No. It is really black spots. A few of the melons just rotted completely (they were really small when this happened). I'll have to go out there tomorrow and take a picture of exactly what it looks like. I don't really know how to describe it all that well.

I have had to water for the past few weeks because we have had no rain. Do you think maybe I watered too much?

They are on hills that I made. Our soil is really sandy and I did read that is supposed to be good for melons, which is why I guess they are doing better than anything else.

link

There may be some other info in there you can use.

Okay, that does sound like what is going on. I bet I over watered. I don't have to destroy all the melons, right? Just the ones that are doing this? It isn't all of them, actually maybe only 15% of them or so. I'd hate to have to destroy all of them. I want watermelon!

I didn't see anything about it but I wonder if I turn the melons over if that would make a difference? You know, so that one spot isn't in the wet all the time?

No, just the diseased ones but don't leave them out to rot because the mildew/mold/fungus/whateveritis can spread. Put the fruit up on some mulch, like straw, to get them off the wet ground.

you don't want the fruit in water at all.

I grow melons on a piece of lattice laid horizontal about 8 inches off of mulched soil. (not enough time this year to get them in)

fungus loves melons......you need to be much more proactive, and yes lots of watering makes the problem worse. You need to be watering early in the day, so that moisture does not sit above ground for long. Fungicides might be required as well. It is critical the one chooses the right seeds, as genetics does matter.

This year is prob a lost cause.

This year has been particularly bad for blights in veggies. Late blights started on solenaceous plants in the east and the fungus travels on the wind. Potatoes and tomatoes started it all and cucurbits are nex in line for infection as is stuff like tobacco alfalfa, and a few other more commercial products. Ive been spraying my alfalfa with Gramaxon (for the disease carrying leaf hoppers) and some commercial fungicides specific for late blight. My alfalfa looks pretty bad so Im probably gonna be plowing the whole thing up and trying some corn next year.

In Louisiana Ive often found that severeal fungus related problems start waay earlier (because of the climate differences of course).
I know that theyve had severe problems with some fungi in the "muck" veggies like onions and some berries.

you don't want any part of the melon in "the wet"

sand hills are a good start - but you still want the melons above the soil - whether on straw or using a sort of shelf like Rocky's lattice

the roots need to be watered, the melons don't

o...........................k , I didn't know that. I'm going out to put straw under all the melons so I don't lose anymore. I really appreciate everyone's help.