Join us for an exciting opportunity to explore a diverse selection of pumpkin cultivars, gain insights into integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for pumpkins, and tour ongoing research led by Purdue specialists. Stay tuned—more details about this event will be shared soon!
Cucurbits
An average-yielding watermelon crop in an acre accumulates approximately 150 pounds of both nitrogen and potassium in the vegetative tissue and fruit. These nutrients are supplied by the soil’s existing nutrient pool and through supplemental fertilizer applications. Soil testing is a valuable tool for assessing what nutrients are present in soils and the amount of…Read more about Lessons Learned: Nitrogen Fertilizer Management in Indiana Watermelon Production[Read More]
Planning your vegetable varieties for the upcoming season? Purdue University has maintained comprehensive records of vegetable variety trials throughout the Midwest since 1999. The Midwest Vegetable Trial Report series offers valuable applied research findings specifically relevant to vegetable and melon production in the Midwest region. Below, you’ll find abstracts from the most recent reports. For…Read more about Data-Driven Decisions: Choosing Vegetable Varieties with Midwest Trial Results[Read More]
Growing watermelons in Indiana isn’t always easy if you have cucumber beetles and spider mites. These pests are some of the most damaging to Midwest cucurbits and are commonly managed with a combination of insecticides and miticides. Unfortunately, chemical management for one pest could interfere with control of another pest. For example, spider mite outbreaks…Read more about Want Fewer Spider Mites? Ease Up on the Beetle Spraying![Read More]
Vegetable Educational Meeting for Vegetable and Pumpkin Farmers February 18th from 8:30 am-11:30 am Purdue Extension, Lake County Office, 2291 North Main St., Crown Point, IN. Agenda • Did you know hot water treatment can help protect your seeds from diseases? • Come meet the new vegetable pathologist, Dr. Cesar Escalante! • Midwest Vegetable Production…Read more about Purdue Extension-Lake County Hosts Educational Meeting for Vegetable and Pumpkin Farmers[Read More]
Southern Indiana Vegetable Growers Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with Illiana Watermelon Association Convention (IWA). The meeting will take place on January 17th in French Lick, Indiana. The meeting agenda is posted below. Additional details about the event can be found on the IWA website. Registration and booth questions should be directed to…Read more about Southern Indiana Vegetable Growers & Illiana Watermelon Accociation Winter Meeting[Read More]
Root-knot nematode (RKN, Meloidogyne spp.) is a major problem in cucurbits such as watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, pumpkin, and squash. The reason RKN is problematic lies in their ability to persist for long periods in the soil and their wide host range, which includes more than 2,000 plant species, including crops and weeds. RKN infestations are…Read more about Battling Root-knot Nematodes In Commercial Cucurbit Crops[Read More]
Squash Vine Borer While we have disseminated several Delta traps throughout the state, we are getting few reports back from collaborators. Those who have reported recently (Allen, Marion, and Knox Counties) are all still reporting adult moths being active and caught in traps. Corn Earworm Be sure that you are monitoring your dent corn in…Read more about Insect Trapping Updates Jul-23, 2024[Read More]
Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) is a disease caused by the pathogen Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli. Most cucurbit crops are affected by this disease, although watermelon cultivars are commonly more susceptible. However, this summer, I received cantaloupe samples (Figures 1 and 2) that tested positive for BFB using serological tests. When environmental conditions are conducive,…Read more about Bacterial Fruit Blotch On Cucurbits[Read More]
Dear Melon Growers and Industry Friends, You are invited to tour the watermelon variety trials conducted at Southwest Purdue Ag Center in Vincennes, IN, on July 24, 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 This is a self-guided tour. Extension…Read more about Southwest Purdue Ag Center Watermelon Variety Evaluation Open House on July 24[Read More]