Over the past two years, we’ve been testing various cucumber cultivars to see which ones are most vulnerable to pests in high tunnel systems. We split the cucumbers into two groups based on fruit characteristics for a fair comparison. The first group consists of pickle-type cucumbers, known for being small, blocky, and having thin skin.[Read More…]
Cucurbits
The seedcorn maggot, Delia platura, is one of the first pests that will cause damage to vegetables in the spring in our region. This fly, which resembles a house fly but is smaller (Figure 1), begins to emerge from the overwintering pupal stage in the soil in early spring. Upon emergence, the flies quickly aggregate[Read More…]
Are you still thinking about varieties for the upcoming season? Purdue has been keeping a record of vegetable variety trials in the Midwest since 1999. The Midwest Vegetable Trial Report series includes reports of applied research relevant to vegetable and melon production in the Midwest. Here are some abstracts of the most recent reports. Visit the Midwest Vegetable[Read More…]
The Indiana Vegetable Growers Association (IVGA) will host an evening meeting on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at the Vincennes University Agricultural Center, 4207 North Purdue Road, Vincennes, IN. Registration starts at 5 pm. Purdue researchers will be onsite to discuss production issues. We will also discuss presentation topics for the upcoming winter meetings. Dinner will[Read More…]
For most pumpkin growers, it is too late to take any corrective action against diseases for the 2023 crop. However, it might be wise to determine what disease problems were present during the 2023 season. This article will discuss two relatively unusual virus diseases of pumpkin. Recently, I visited several pumpkin fields in northern Indiana.[Read More…]
Downy mildew has been observed in Adam County in northern Indiana on cucumber. In addition, downy mildew on cucumber has been reported in southern Michigan and northern Ohio. Growers in northern Indiana should manage for downy mildew on valuable cucurbit crops. Growers throughout the state should scout for the disease. Growers should assume that all[Read More…]
There are many challenges in growing watermelons. Hail occurring right before harvest time is undoubtedly one of them. In the past weeks, there have been thunderstorms in southern Indiana. Some brought hail. Small hail causes minor damage to watermelon leaves and stems, but big hail can devastate the foliage and cause significant scarring to the[Read More…]
Dear Melon Growers and Industry Friends, You are invited to tour melon variety trials conducted at Southwest Purdue Ag Center, in Vincennes, IN, on July 26, 10:00 am-1:00 pm EST. The variety trials include: A standard-sized seedless watermelon trial A person-sized seedless watermelon trial A seeded watermelon trial A cantaloupe trial This is a self-guided[Read More…]
It is not unusual for watermelon wilt to occur in the late season in our region. The plants are loaded with fruit and are sensitive to many stresses. In some cases, it is clear pathogens cause the problem, such as late-season fusarium wilt. While in other cases, it is hard to associate the symptom with[Read More…]
Earlier this year, Rely® 280 was registered for use in transplanted cantaloupe, cucumber, pepper, summer squash, tomato, and watermelon with a supplemental label. The registration allows for the use of Rely® 280 for pre-plant burndown and post-directed applications to row middles. Previously, postemergence burndown and row middle options were limited to glyphosate (Roundup®), carfentrazone (Aim®),[Read More…]