Well, the lovely Minnesota Midget seems to have come down with a little something.

If a variety of online diagnostic tools can be trusted, it looks like Minnie may have contracted a case of ulocladium leaf spot. Which may be even more fun to say than Walla Walla, Washington. Certainly more fun alternaria leaf spot, which is another candidate.

At any rate, there’s not a whole lot than can be done at this point except treat the affected plants with a fungicide (copper sprays are recommended by some but POD’s trying out organicide) and snipping off affected leaves.

To avoid spotty leaves, gardeners should NOT:

• water the leaves of cucumber and melon plants.
• dash outside and run their fingers through the rain-dampened leaves.

To avoid spotty leaves, gardeners should:

• water in the morning, before the hours of high heat.
• water the soil directly.
• fertilize regularly.
• use organic fungicides regularly.
• use clean, unaffected soil for future plants.