If you lost part of your cucumber or cantaloupe plantings this season, bacterial wilt could have been responsible. While these cucurbit crops are susceptible to several diseases, bacterial wilt is the most common.

Primary symptoms of this bacterial disease include severe vine wilt followed by rapid death of plants. At first, only a few vines on an affected plant may show symptoms of wilt. However, as the disease progresses, more leaves wilt and eventually the entire vine is affected. Bacterial wilt is severe on cucumber and cantaloupe and less damaging to squash and watermelon.

The bacteria which causes the wilt are carried from plant-to-plant by striped or spotted cucumber beetles. The beetles transmit the bacterial wilt microorganism by chewing on infected cucumber or cantaloupe vines and then feeding on healthy plants.

If bacterial wilt was a problem in your garden this season, the amount of this disease can be reduced in future plantings by keeping these beetles under control with a good insecticide spray program. Use an approved insecticide spray or dust at the first sign of beetle activity.

Insecticides which control striped and spotted cucumber beetles include diazinon, malathion, methoxychlor, sevin, or thiodan sprays, and sevin or thiodan dusts. Refer to product labels for use directions.

Note: Special precautions should be taken to apply insecticides in the late afternoon to avoid causing injury or death to pollinating insects such as honeybees.

For additional tips on ways to avoid gardening problems, visit us at your county Extension office. Don't forget to ask for your free copy of the "Garden Tabloid." The Tabloid is packed with information on ways to get the most out of your fall garden.

Infobytes newsletter was written by the late Dr. Frank Killebrew, Extension Specialist.