There are many cultural and biological practices for managing diseases. These practices can be grouped based on whether the goal is to reduce the amount of pathogen present at the start of crop production (= initial inoculum) or to suppress the rate of disease development.

Information on the biology of the pathogen causing the target disease is essential for selecting appropriate practices for a particular disease. For example, diseases that can be managed by rotating crop land to nonsusceptible crops are those caused by organisms capable of surviving in soil only for a few years in the absence of a host plant. Rotation is not effective for downy mildew because the pathogen does not survive in soil. It is not practical for Fusarium wilt because the pathogen can survive in soil at least 5 years. However, it is possible to successfully grow a different cucurbit crop after Fusarium wilt has occurred because these pathogens are crop specific. Modifying the environment to shorten moist periods can be effective for several foliar diseases, but not powdery mildew. Below is a list of some management practices and the diseases they are recommended for.

A. Reduce amount of initial inoculum

1. Use 'disease-free' planting material. Obtain seed and transplants from a reputable source. Buy certified material. Pathogens on the outside of seed can be controlled by treating seed for 1 minute with sodium hypochlorite (1 part Clorox + 4 parts water). For pathogens inside seed treat with hot water (20 min at 122F). Angular leaf spot, Anthracnose, Black rot/Gummy stem blight (GSB), Fusarium wilt
2. Rotate crop land to a nonsusceptible crop. Do not rotate with pepper, eggplant, or tomato where Phytophthora blight is a concern. Alternaria leaf blight, Angular leaf spot, Anthracnose, Black rot/ GSB, Phytophthora blight
3. Control weeds that serve as an alternate host for pathogen. Viruses
4. Physically separate plantings. All diseases
5. Clean equipment to avoid moving infested soil between fields. Alternaria leaf blight, Angular leaf spot, Anthracnose, Black rot/GSB, Fusarium wilt, Phytophthora blight
6. Deep plow fields immediately after harvest. Alternaria leaf blight, Angular leaf spot, Anthracnose, Black rot/GSB, Phytophthora blight
7. Remove infested crop debris. Anthracnose, Black rot/GSB

B. Suppress rate of disease development

1. Select resistant varieties. Resistance is usually race-specific, therefore it is necessary to know what races of a pathogen are likely to occur. Races 1 and 2 of powdery mildew and of Fusarium wilt of melon occur in NY. Varieties developed through genetic engineering (transgenics) are not approved for certified organic production. Angular leaf spot, Anthracnose, Downy mildew, Fusarium wilt, Powdery mildew, Scab, Viruses
2. Control insects that serve as vectors for pathogens. Silver or aluminized plastic mulch repels flying aphids which can vector viruses. Cucumber beetles vector bacterial wilt.
3. Maintain plant health through proper nutrition, watering, weed control, etc. But avoid luxuriant growth.
4. Modify environment to shorten moist periods. Use furrow or drip irrigation (avoid overhead irrigation). Select field with good air movement. Orient rows parallel to prevailing wind direction. Avoid dense plant population. Alternaria leaf blight, Angular leaf spot, Anthracnose, Bacterial leaf spot, Black rot/GSB, Cottony leek, Downy mildew, Scab, Septoria leaf spot
5. Do not work when plants are wet. Angular leaf spot, Bacterial leaf spot
6. Improve soil drainage. Subsoil. Use raised beds. Fusarium wilt, Phytophthora blight
7. Apply fungicides/bactericides. Sulfur is very effective for powdery mildew. Copper has broad spectrum activity and will suppress several diseases. These are elements and thus do not degrade in the environment, which some organic growers find objectionable. Monopotassium phosphate (eKsPunge) and potassium bicarbonate products (Armicarb 100 and Kaligreen) are being reviewed for their acceptance for organic production. These are effective for powdery mildew. AQ10 contains a parasite of powdery mildew fungi. It needs to be applied with an oil. AddQ adjuvant sold with AQ10 is an aliphatic petroleum distillate. Oils are effective alone for powdery mildew. Alternaria leaf blight, Angular leaf spot, Anthracnose, Bacterial leaf spot, Black rot/GSB, Downy mildew, Powdery mildew
8. Destroy affected plants early in disease development. Bacterial wilt, Phytophthora blight, Viruses