The first week of May certainly didn’t feel like May, as temperatures were 5-10°F below normal across the state (Figure 1). Daytime maximum temperatures struggled to reach 60°F across the northern half of the state, while southern areas only saw low 60s for much of the week. Using Indianapolis as a reference point, given its…Read more about May’s Cold Start And A Pattern Change[Read More]
Vegetable Crops - General
Introduction The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens; BSF) is a species of fly in the Stratiomyidae, or soldier fly, family. They are an all black fly that has clear windows near the base of its abdomen that it uses to mimic wasps (Figure 1). BSF adults live for about 5-8 days, during which time they…Read more about The Black Soldier Fly[Read More]
Dear Valued Vegetable Crops Hotline Readers, Welcome to this issue of the 2026 Vegetable Crops Hotline newsletter! Our mission remains steadfast: to deliver crucial updates on pest management, production practices, food safety, and marketing opportunities that directly impact your farming operations. Growers and Purdue Extension Educators, your input and expertise make this newsletter a truly…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]
Purdue Extension is hosting two field days this July that together cover a wide range of fruit and vegetable production topics – one tailored to small-scale and urban growers, and one designed for commercial producers looking to engage directly with the latest research from Purdue. Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Field Day – July 16, 2026…Read more about Two Purdue Field Days This Summer Have Something for Every Fruit and Vegetable Grower[Read More]
Indiana saw a lot of precipitation in the early part of this past week, with rainfall totals of 0.5” or more in northern and far southwestern counties and more than 5” in south-central Indiana. In fact, an observer just south of Bedford, IN, reported a combined total of 5.80”! Figure 1 shows the 2-day total…Read more about An Impressive Amount of Rain[Read More]
NourishCap is a digital marketing company that works with mushroom growers. They have partnered with Purdue Extension in an effort to understand and find potential solutions to marketing and shipping barriers faced by mushroom growers. As part of this process, NourishCap has developed a grower survey. If you are a mushroom grower, please take a…Read more about Mushroom Grower Survey[Read More]
Root-knot nematodes (RKN, Meloidogyne spp.) are among the most damaging plant-parasitic nematodes in vegetable production systems. Infective juveniles hatch from eggs in the soil, find and penetrate host plant roots. They migrate to the vascular tissue, where they establish specialized feeding sites, develop into adults, and reproduce by laying eggs on the surface of roots….Read more about Root-knot Nematodes and Their Populations Identified in Indiana[Read More]
Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are a group of microscopic, worm-like organisms that live in soil or plant tissues and cause damage to crop production. While some species infect aboveground plant parts such as leaves and stems, those of greatest concern across a wide range of vegetables are soil-dwelling species that feed on plant roots….Read more about Understanding Nematodes in Soils of Diversified Vegetable Farms in Indiana[Read More]
Dear Valued Vegetable Crops Hotline Readers, Welcome to this issue of the 2026 Vegetable Crops Hotline newsletter! Our mission remains steadfast: to deliver crucial updates on pest management, production practices, food safety, and marketing opportunities that directly impact your farming operations. Growers and Purdue Extension Educators, your input and expertise make this newsletter a truly…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]
Dear Valued Vegetable Crops Hotline Readers, Welcome to the second edition of the 2026 Vegetable Crops Hotline newsletter! Our mission remains steadfast: to deliver crucial updates on pest management, production practices, food safety, and marketing opportunities that directly impact your farming operations. In upcoming issues, we’ll cover several critical topics, including emerging pest challenges, innovative…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]