Sick melon plants?

[gav28]

Hi guys, I hope you can help, I have 3 melon plants in the Greenhouse, one of them is thriving, the other two are looking somewhat sickly They are still throwing out new shoots which look a lot healthier, but still, they don't look happy!

The leaves appear to have turned yellow, then eventually crisp up and die. Here are a few photo's, any ideas what is up with them?

Thanks

[lottie dolly]

some of it looks like water and sun damage,

[WendyC]

My guess would be red spider mite. Really tiny red spider like creatures. They suck the sap out causing it to shrivel. There are predatory insects you could introduce or keeping the greenhouse more humid can slow their progress. Difficult to eradicate in my experience. A sulphur candle and/or a good wash down of the greenhouse in the Autumn gets rid of any over wintering ones.

[BUFFS]

gav28,where are you? your plants look like mine last year when summer never came and the melons shrivelled in the greenhouse due to the constant cold,we are having better luck this year,so far....

[gav28]

Hi Buffs, I'm down in "sunny" Kent...yeah right :-) I do think they may be sulking due to the constant change in temperature, the leaves don't look to have any nasties on them. All very strange.

[rustylady]

I would cut the damaged leaves off if I were you Gav.

[VirginVegGrower]

Yellowing leaves with green veining tends to indicate iron chlorosis, which could be a simple case of your soil ph.

[gav28]

Yellowing leaves with green veining tends to indicate iron chlorosis, which could be a simple case of your soil ph.

Thanks, that is option, I wonder. I will need to get a soil tester.

[rustylady]

What compost are they planted in Gav?

[gav28]

If I remember correctly, it was Homebase own brand stuff. Interestingly the 1 melon plant that is thriving was grown using stuff straight from my compost heap as an experiment :-)

[rustylady]

Are you using any feed on them? Nutrients in shop bought compost only last for about six weeks.

[WendyC]

If I remember correctly, it was Homebase own brand stuff. Interestingly the 1 melon plant that is thriving was grown using stuff straight from my compost heap as an experiment :-)

Think you may have hit the nail on the head there!

[gav28]

Lol, yup feeding them with Miracle Grow :-)

I noticed that the soil is rather wet and reading up about iron chlorosis it appears that over-wet soil can inhibit the take up of iron. Will let them dry out a bit and see what happens.

Thanks for the tips guys.

[VirginVegGrower]

You can see it in the other leaves that haven't gone brown. Easy on watering a good idea.