Abstract Plastic mulches and mineral oil plus insecticide sprays were evaluated for control of papaya ringspot potyvirus (PRV‐W) in zucchini (Cucurbita pepo cv. ‘Blackjack') in two field experiments in Queensland, Australia. Treatments were compared using a proportional hazards survival model. Mulches with a reflective (silver) surface reduced the hazard ratio (Hr) from 1 in the controls to 0.32, while mineral oil plus insecticide sprays (Hr 0.33) were as effective as reflective mulches used alone (?>0.05). A combination of reflective mulch and oil plus insecticide sprays was the most effective treatment (Hr 0.16). Black mulch alone (Hr 0.66) was partly effective and significantly better than control (? 0.05). Albarol® (Hr 0.26) p...