Control aphids and cucumber beetles. Begin control when the plants emerge from the soil. Destroy volunteer cucurbit plants. These can harbor cucurbit disease organisms. Do not enter the cucurbit patch to cultivate or pick while the the plants are wet.
Water helps spread disease.
Do not cultivate after the vines are 18 inches long. It is difficult to not damage plants once they are vining. Remove and destroy all diseased plants. Avoid poorly drained areas of the field and areas where water collects in rainy periods. Remove and destroy all crop refuse in the fall.