Background Tomato pinworm “TPW” (Keiferia lycopersicella) is a small microlepidopteran pest of solanaceous crops with a strong preference for tomato (Figure 1). It naturally occurs in warm climates of the U.S., including Texas, Florida, Hawaii, and California. It cannot survive outdoors in temperate climates, such as Indiana, where winter temperatures exceed a low threshold of[Read More…]
Tomato
The first symptom of bacterial spot of pepper that is usually noticed is the lesions on the leaves. These lesions are irregular to round in shape and brown and are associated with chlorosis. Lesions are usually water-soaked (Figure 1). In severe cases, the fruit may be affected. The lesions on fruit are often raised (Figure[Read More…]
I often receive questions on how much water should apply to high tunnel tomatoes. Even the most experienced tomato growers could sometimes lose yield because of overlooking irrigation management. In this article, I describe a case study of how we use soil moisture sensors for irrigation management in a high tunnel tomato production system. This[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…]
Tomatoes need a consistent water supply when they start to bloom and set fruit. As plants grow more foliage and have more fruits set, their water needs increase. As a result, the irrigation amount must steadily increase to maintain the consistent soil water content and the water supply to the plants. What would happen if[Read More…]
Tomato pith necrosis is a bacterial disease of tomatoes that occurs sporadically, usually in greenhouses or high tunnels. While this disease can kill or at least ruin marketable yield on tomatoes, the disease usually affects perhaps only a handful of plants in a greenhouse. That is, the disease does not seem to spread beyond the[Read More…]
The Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day is presented on July 27, 2023, at the Purdue Student Farm in West Lafayette, IN. Registration for the field day is now open. To reserve your spot, visit https://cvent.me/ewWN3b. Students register for free! Please get in touch with Lori Jolly-Brown to receive the discount code for student registration.[Read More…]
The importance of bees for providing pollination is a regularly discussed topic in many fruit and vegetable production systems. Although tomatoes are often pollinated by wind, they too can benefit from bee pollination. Recent research suggests that tomato flowers visited by bees have a larger fruit set and produce heavier fruits. An ongoing study in[Read More…]
The 2022 Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day was a big success. Nearly 72% of attendees reported that they learned something new. Nearly half indicated they plan to adopt recommended practices for diversified farming systems, and over a third (36.0%) plan to adopt recommended practices for creating, improving, or strengthening their business. Half (52.0%) indicated[Read More…]
The Midwest Vegetable Trial Report series includes reports of applied research relevant to vegetable and melon production in the midwestern U.S. The purpose of the series is to publish results and document the annual results of vegetable and melon research projects. In 2022, 16 trial reports from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota were published. Variety[Read More…]