Tomato growers should also monitor carefully for bacterial spot and speck, bacterial canker and late blight. These diseases continue to be high in most areas. Reports from Ohio and Illinois continue to indicate that cucumber beetles remain high on plantings of cucurbit crops such as cucumbers, melons, zucchini and squash. Numbers in southern Ontario remain high also. Carefully monitor for the presence of these beetles which vector bacterial wilt to cucurbits.
Squash bugs are also present in many areas.
Check carefully for the orange to rust coloured egg masses on the backsides of leaves. The threshold in NY state is one egg mass per plant. Remember when spraying cucurbit crops or crops nearby to protect pollinating bees from poisoning. All cucurbit crops are dependant upon pollinating bees for successful fruitset. When insecticide sprays are required, they should be applied after 7 PM to reduce the risk to pollinating bees.