Downy mildew has now been observed on butternut squash, jack-o-lantern pumpkins and cucumbers in Knox County. The list of cucurbits observed in Porter County has been updated to include butternut squash and giant pumpkin. All cucurbit growers should assume that downy mildew is present nearby and may attack any cucurbit crop.
However, it is not clear what affect downy mildew may have on cucurbit crops this late in the season. Pumpkin growers who expect to harvest in the next few weeks may not need to take any management steps at this time. Downy mildew affects only leaves; stems and fruit are unaffected. Indirect effects of downy mildew in fruit are unlikely to be observed in a few weeks. Another article in this Hotline issue discusses the question of when to stop managing diseases in pumpkins. If the decision is made to apply fungicides, this article https://vegcropshotline.org/article/cucurbit-downy-mildew-watch/ or the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide mwveguide.org will help to select a treatment.
Other cucurbit crops, such as cucumbers, cantaloupe and watermelon are even more likely to be close to the final harvest. All cucurbit growers should weigh the cost of a fungicide application against the possibility of increased yield or fruit quality.