DATE:     9/6/96
CONTACT:  Dr. Anthony Keinath, (803) 766-3761
WRITER:   Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343

Cucurbit Field Day Is Set
For Coastal REC Sept. 19

     CHARLESTON -- South Carolina pumpkin and watermelon growers
can find out the latest about their crops during a Cucurbit Field
Day at Coastal Research and Education Center Sept. 19.
     The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with coffee, tea and doughnuts,
followed at 9:45 by a tour of research and demonstration plots
and concludes about 11:45, according to Anthony Keinath, Clemson
Extension plant pathologist at the Coastal REC.
     Visitors will learn to recognize powdery mildew, downy
mildew and viruses on pumpkins, learn about spraying for diseases
and insects, and check on which pumpkin varieties set fruit under
adverse conditions.
     "Growers will see what works and what doesn't work in
pumpkin production," Keinath said.
     Growers will also see symptoms of gummy stem blight on
watermelon stems and leaves and learn about scheduling fungicide
sprays on watermelon.
     The Coastal REC is on U.S. Highway 17 south of Charleston.
                               END