Disease free watermelon crops early in the season with Verpixo Adavelt active fungicide.
The use of Verpixo Adavelt active fungicide early in watermelon and pumpkin crops has helped control gummy stem blight for farmer Jack Piper, of South Kolan, west of Bundaberg, in Queensland.
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Jack notes they often see a lot of gummy stem blight, likely due to the stress on young seedlings coming out of the nursery and being planted.
“Gummy stem blight is the worst thing first up but, fortunately, we do have some chemicals now which are helping them when they are in the ground,” Jack explains.
He says Verpixo was recommended by his local agronomy team in 2024 and has been used on the property ever since.
“I got onto it straight away, and I’m finding it’s very good early in the crop,” Jack adds.
“I think it’s important to get that good chemical on early and it seems to last. It’s excellent.”
He says Verpixo is the first spray of the season with a second application made seven to 10 days later to give the crop the best possible start.
“I think it's very important to spend the money and get it on early, because I’m seeing the results.”
Verpixo is a Group 21 preventative fungicide which is effective on both powdery mildew and gummy stem blight and should be rotated with other chemistry groups after the initial applications.
“We are putting different sprays on and everything's covered well all the time.”
Jack says when the crops start to run later in the season, he opens more nozzles up to improve the spray coverage, and the crop receives a third and final application of Verpixo.
“I'm getting longevity of the vine and the crop. We’re picking so much more fruit. When the vine should be flat, they keep going. It's really worth doing,” he says.
“I've got a spray program that I follow. Obviously, if there's something that comes up throughout the season that needs addressing, we will look at it.
“Farming can be a struggle, but we've got some good people working with us in the agronomy team and we seem to be able to work it out and overcome the challenges.”
The farm was purchased from his grandfather in 2023 when Jack was in his early 20s.
He had spent time working with other farmers and entities to get started but the goal was always to come back and farm his own property.
“I love the challenges, and I thrive on being busy,” he says.
“My parents did the same thing, and I've been with them the whole time and know what they do.”
Crops grown on the property include watermelons, pumpkins, avocados, sugar cane and pasture for cattle.
Jack Piper of South Kolan, QLD, uses Verpixo Adavelt active fungicide early in the season to control Gummy stem disease in cucurbit crops
The spring cucurbit crops are planted from early August until the end of September and picked from mid-November right through until Christmas.
There is also an autumn plant from early January until the end of February which is harvested in April through to early May.
Small crops have replaced cane areas on the property, and the cucurbits are often rotated with hay or soybeans.
Verpixo is registered for the control of gummy stem blight and powdery mildew in cucurbit crops.
It also provides effective management of powdery mildew, target spot, anthracnose, and grey mould in fruiting vegetables.
Additionally, Verpixo is registered for a range of diseases in lettuce, strawberries, and grapevines.
Check the product label for full directions of use and make Verpixo part of your season-long strategic plan.
