Last year, 2012, we had lot of PM. I read all I could find. This year I followed the rule of not watering late in the day & we haven't had any problem. But, I did notice several gourd vines coming up around the front porch, from seeds that dropped from plants last year, & the leaves are covered with PM. The gourds out back have zero. It is a very curious matter. Also, this year, we used no poisons or sprays of any kind. We did the companion planting, where certain herbs & flowers are planted next to certain vegetables & they somehow protect one another. We truly had no bug problem other than Leaf Footed Stink Bugs, which have no enemies.

I too have noticed PM on the melons growing in my yard -- they are far enough away from sprinklers, are watered only at the roots with a hose, get all-day sun, so this is unexplainable to me. I think it is affecting the growth of my melons negatively, they do not seem to be reaching full potential size. I wonder if this will also affect the sweetness/ flavor?

I too have noticed PM on the melons growing in my yard -- they are far enough away from sprinklers, are watered only at the roots with a hose, get all-day sun, so this is unexplainable to me. I think it is affecting the growth of my melons negatively, they do not seem to be reaching full potential size. I wonder if this will also affect the sweetness/ flavor?

It does not matter, at this point, as how did it get there. At this stage your primary concern, maybe, should be to combat it.

Get some fungicide spray , like daconil, Neem Oil sparay. do as directed.