cucumber sun burn, watermelon sunscald

Charleston Gray and other melons can suffer from sunburn

Watermelon, cucumbers and many other vegetables can be burned by the sun.  This causes white spots on the skin  that extends into the flesh.  This dead flesh may be attacked by saprophytic fungi such as Botrytis and Aspergillus.

While the black spots and smugs caused by fungus are often thought to be the cause of the problem, the intense rays of the sun not providing shade is the problem.

Cucumber with sunburn and a fungus infection.

Covering the fruit with the vines, straw or hay can help prevent this problem.