We’ve made it! Meteorological summer started on June 1, but the official start of summer isn’t until June 20. The days are longer, temperatures have risen, and my allergies are in full swing. I let the dogs out last night, and there was still quite a bit of light in the sky just before 10:00…Read more about Meteorological Summer Has Arrived[Read More]
Vegetable Crops - General
I’m excited to share that the University of Kentucky Center for Crop Diversification (UK CCD) and the Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK) are partnering with Glacial Drift Enterprises to host a Mechanical Weed Control Field Day on September 23 at the University of Kentucky Horticulture Research Farm in Lexington. Like many of your states, Kentucky is home to a…Read more about Mechanical Weed Control Field Day at the University of Kentucky – September 23[Read More]
Mark your calendars for July 24, 2025 – the Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day promises to be an invaluable resource for small-scale farmers and urban growers across Indiana. The Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, in partnership with the Purdue Student Farm, is hosting this comprehensive educational event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m….Read more about Discover Small-Scale Farming Solutions at Purdue’s Educational Field Day[Read More]
Chandler’s Orchard and Country Market, located in Filmore, 30 miles west of Indianapolis, will host the Indiana Horticultural Society summer meeting on July 9. The farm was founded by Jerry Chandler in 1975 and is currently operated by his son Matt and his family. They grow about 75 varieties of apples, including common varieties like…Read more about Indiana Horticultural Society Summer Meeting Showcases Fruit and Vegetable Production at Chandler’s Orchard and Country Market- July 9[Read More]
Welcome to the start of Hurricane Season, which runs from June through November each year. Why would Indiana care about hurricane season? Certainly, by the time any hurricane might impact the state, it will have been greatly downgraded to what is called an extratropical (i.e., poleward of the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° north latitude)) storm…Read more about It’s a Hazy Shade of …. June[Read More]
If you’re scouting for cabbage aphids (Figure 1) in your brassicas this summer, don’t overlook one of your garden’s lesser-known allies: soldier beetles, also known as leatherwings (Figure 2). These beneficial insects can be valuable predators, especially when aphid populations begin to surge in warm weather. Cabbage aphids are difficult to manage due to their…Read more about Soldier Beetles: Summer Allies Against Cabbage Aphids[Read More]
Small and medium-sized vegetable farms face unique challenges balancing profitability with sustainable production practices and food safety requirements. To better understand how these farmers navigate complex decision-making processes, the Soil to Market Team—comprising Maria Marshall, Renee Wiatt, Petrus Langenhoven, Betty Feng, and Nathan Shoaf—conducted a comprehensive survey of 500 small and medium-sized farmers across the…Read more about Understanding Farm Decision-Making: Insights from the 2024-2025 Producer Survey[Read More]
Time is running short—register TODAY to secure your spot at this year’s Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center Field Day! Located in the heart of Indiana’s premier watermelon-growing region, the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC) stands as one of Purdue’s eight agricultural research centers, uniquely positioned where specialty crops meet cutting-edge agricultural innovation. This field day represents…Read more about Don’t Miss Out: Final Call for SWPAC Field Day Registration![Read More]
Dear Valued VCH Readers, Welcome to this week’s edition of the Vegetable Crops Hotline! As we move deeper into the growing season, this week’s edition brings you essential insights and timely updates to help navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead. From understanding how vegetable growers are integrating sustainable practices through our latest producer survey findings…Read more about From the Editor’s Desk[Read More]
Indiana produces approximately 22,000 gallons of maple syrup each year, and this natural sweetener has a wide range of culinary uses. However, the flavor of maple syrup can be affected by various factors during the collection and processing of sap. To ensure high-quality syrup production, the University of Vermont Extension and the University of Maine…Read more about Purdue Hosts Maple Syrup Quality Control Training Program[Read More]