Muskmelons are difficult to grow using organic practices because of bacterial wilt and the cucumber beetle that vectors the disease. Row covers can be placed over muskmelon transplants and then removed at anthesis (the period at which 50% of plants have female flowers). In addition to shielding muskmelons from bacterial wilt, row covers also can protect plants from early season frost, wind damage, and fungal diseases. However, the intensive labor needs of row-cover deployment have limited their use to small fields on small-scale farms