Watermelon woes - is there hope?

Sooooo, doesn't it just figure that the thing I am most excited about in the garden is the one thing that is having the most problems?!?!

My book for plant diseases is not much help this time.





Any thoughts on the problem and possible solutions are greatly appreciated!!

Awww I can't help you, but I really hope you can get it figured out and have some yummy melons.

The top picture actually resembles blossom end rot, but I really don't know about the one on the bottom. Maybe check with your local extension office. They should know, I'm sure. Good luck!

Does pollinating watermelon flowers with a finger work? Haven't seen many bees around my garden.

LittleSapphire - thanks for the sympathy!

Denese - I consulted my friends at a local nursery/greenhouse and they suspect blossom end rot as well. That is somewhat encouraging - not quite as devastating as other possibilities. I didn't think about the local extension office - thanks for the tip!

jkahn2eb - a little paint brush might be easier, but I suppose any way you can transfer pollen would work . . . ?

The Vickster,

Wow, that first pix looks exactly like mine...it happened to three babies and they just mushed out and turned black. I even had one above ground like yours. I was so sad. When I did a little research, it said it can reside on the seeds. It becomes a problem when there are drought-like conditions. Also a calcium deficiency. Here's info from http://idigmygarden.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25825 :

From Texas A&M:
"Blossom-end rot is caused by a calcium deficiency in the fruit and
occurs in plants subjected to drought stress. The initial symptoms are
brown spots at the blossom end of the fruit which later enlarge, darken
and become leathery. Decay may occur as a result of microbial activity.
Cultivars can differ in their susceptibility to the problem. Watering
operations that avoid drought stress can reduce or eliminate the
problem. Excess nitrogen fertilizer may also contribute to blossom-end
rot."


Co-miserating the loss of the watermelon crop with you, my friend!

I am not a watermelon expert but this does not look like BER. More like anthracnose. Hard to tell because I cannot make the photo larger for better inspection. I second the idea of contacting your county Ag agent for positive ID. Please let us know what you find out.

I am going to second Anthracnose. The bottom picture is not rotting on the blossom end. Are you having this on tomatoes or peppers?