Roadside market melons come from smaller acreage and part-time farmers. Cultivar selection is an important management decision in combating pests and meeting market windows. Populations vary from 2,000 to 3,000 plants per acre, and can be grown under a wide array of irrigation practices or dryland. Insect Pests Annually occurring insects include whiteflies, aphids, mites, lepidopteran worms, leafminers, squash bugs, and thrips. Aphids and whiteflies also transmit serious viruses.
Early planting helps reduce losses due to late-season insects.
Beneficial parasitoids and predators are available but are not widely used due to low reliability. There are no current replacements for diazinon. Some varieties resist several pathogens such as Fusarium, wilt and powdery mildew. Planting seed is tested for bacterial fruit blotch pathogen. Rotation reduces the risk of Fusarium wilt and bacterial blotch.