Found 122 Articles

In the past week, we have observed a few cases where newly planted watermelon seedlings were severely damaged or dead (Figure 1). In some fields, we observed rotted roots and lower stems caused by fungal pathogens. However, such diseases were in response to the cold soils and would not normally cause problems in warm soils….Read more about Low Temperature Caused Watermelon Establishment Failure[Read More]


Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center Field Day Date: June 27, 2019. Registration begins at 8:30 am. Location: Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, 4669 N. Purdue Road in Vincennes, IN 47591 Topics related to vegetable production include: Organic Tomato Production: Dan Egel will discuss the Tomato Organic Management and Improvement Project — including foliar disease management of tomatoes. High…Read more about Upcoming Events[Read More]


The biggest topic seems to be how wet it is and how much more rain Indiana can expect. So far, May has experienced near-normal precipitation throughout the central part of the state with 0.5”-2” in southern and northern regions (Figure 1).  Combining this with April’s precipitation, however, means the soil moisture is still 60mm to…Read more about Indiana Climate and Weather Report[Read More]


WASHINGTON, May 6, 2019 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that organic producers and handlers can apply for federal funds to assist with the cost of receiving and maintaining organic certification through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). Applications for fiscal 2019 funding are due Oct. 31, 2019. “Producers can visit their local…Read more about USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Producers’ Costs for Organic Certification[Read More]


Does your farm sometimes have surplus produce? Produce that is perfectly good to eat, but isn’t going to make it to market? Society of St. Andrew can help you harvest and transport the excess to help feed those struggling to get enough to eat. Gleaning America’s Fields – Feeding America’s Hungry. We do it simply,…Read more about Gleaning America’s Fields – Feeding America’s Hungry[Read More]


FieldWatch is an easy-to-use, reliable, accurate and secure on-line mapping tool intended to enhance communications that promotes awareness and stewardship activities between producers of specialty crops, beekeepers, and pesticide applicators. Originally developed at Purdue University, FieldWatch is now a non-profit company with support from producers, applicators, agricultural chemical companies and other organizations. The program allows…Read more about Update your FieldWatch Information and Report Off-target Damage[Read More]


Thinking of sending samples of your vegetables to the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab for diagnosis or insect ID? Here are some tips to help the samples arrive in the best possible condition for testing. Fill out a sample submission form. Download at: https://ag.purdue.edu/btny/ppdl/Pages/physicalspecimens.aspx If sending more than one kind of plant or problem be…Read more about Tips for Submitting Samples to the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab (PPDL)[Read More]


Producing healthy transplants is a critical step for a successful growing season. Choosing the proper growing media is an important first step. Supported by a USDA Specialty Crops Block Grant through the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, researchers from Purdue have been evaluating different organic growing media with and without adding supplemental organic fertilizers for…Read more about Abnormal Transplant Symptoms Might be Caused by Poor Media[Read More]


Although Indiana is not known for lettuce production, an increasing number of growers find that augmenting retail sales with leaf lettuce can be profitable. Since lettuce is a cool season crop, field planted leaf lettuce around Indiana may be reaching harvest stage. Leaf lettuce can generally be grown with few pests. However, lettuce drop was…Read more about Lettuce drop[Read More]


As we wait patiently for the ground to dry and our seedlings to grow, take a moment to consider your strategy for maintaining plant health. If you haven’t started already, it is time to make sure that your pest monitoring programs are in place for the season. For those of you growing in high tunnels,…Read more about Pest Monitoring[Read More]


Purdue University prohibits discrimination against any member of the University community on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran. This material may be available in alternative formats. 1-888-EXT-INFO Disclaimer: Reference to products in this publication is not intended to be an endorsement to the exclusion of others which may have similar uses. Any person using products listed in this publication assumes full responsibility for their use in accordance with current directions of the manufacturer.

Page last modified: May 22, 2019

Vegetable Crops Hotline - Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, 625 Agriculture Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907

© 2026 Purdue UniversityAn equal access/equal opportunity universityCopyright ComplaintsMaintained by Vegetable Crops Hotline

If you have trouble accessing this page because of a disability, please contact Vegetable Crops Hotline at plangenh@purdue.eduAccessibility Resources