Intense heat and long days serve as a reminder that we are officially in the heart of Summer, where Indiana consumers rush to grocery stores and farmers markets to purchase fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables. As produce farms strive to meet this demand, it is important that growers consider food safety and follow good agricultural…Read more about Food Safety Considerations for Vegetable Farms[Read More]
Vegetable Crops - General
Date: September 4, 2024 Time: 3:00 – 8:00 PM EST Location: Southwest Purdue Ag Center, 4369 N Purdue Rd, Vincennes, IN Dinner Provided Join us for an informative workshop designed specifically for small-scale vegetable producers. This event will be held at the Southwest Purdue Ag Center in Vincennes, IN, on September 4th, 2024, from 3:00…Read more about Irrigation Workshop for Small-Scale Vegetable Producers on Sept. 4[Read More]
Meteorological spring (March-May) roared to a close on May 31, and the data is in—it was the 26th wettest on record in 130 years of records, with 14.28 inches of precipitation statewide, over 1.5 inches above normal. At the local level, Fort Wayne had its 4th wettest meteorological spring on record, with 15.93 inches of…Read more about Drying Out and Heating Up[Read More]
The Clearspring Produce Auction is located just 2 miles south of US 20 in Clearspring Township in the Heart of the LaGrange-Elkhart Amish Settlement. It is within easy driving distance of the towns of Shipshewana, Topeka, Emma, and LaGrange. Produce is sold 3 days a week throughout most of the growing season (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday),…Read more about Clearspring Produce Auction Update[Read More]
Common names Common milkweed, silkweed, cotton-weed, Virginia silk, wild cotton, silky milkweed, common silkweed, showy milkweed, swallow wort. Latin name Asclepias syriaca. “Asclepias” from Asklepios, the Ancient Greek god of medicine and healing. “syriaca” is Latin for the country of Syria and was so named because Linnaeus mistakenly thought this plant came from Syria. Family…Read more about Weed Spotlight: Common Milkweed[Read More]
Blow flies are a group of iridescent green or blue flies belonging to the family Calliphoridae. Flies undergo complete metamorphosis, transitioning through egg-larva(maggot)-pupa-adult. Often in this situation, the larvae and adults occur in different environments and feed on different food sources. In fact, blow fly larvae are carrion feeders, meaning they feed on the decaying…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Blow Flies[Read More]
Welcome to the Vegetable Crops Hotline (VCH), Purdue Extension’s exclusive newsletter for people in the business of growing vegetables. This issue features our insect and weed spotlight articles. We also examine June-bearing strawberries and the weather and get updates on auction prices from the Clearspring Produce Auction. The newsletter also includes updates regarding upcoming field…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]
As of writing, it appears we’re heading into the start of meteorological summer (June 1) with a wet meteorological spring on the books. Meteorological spring will end with over 15 inches of rain from March 1 through the end of May, making it the 24th wettest Spring on record for Indianapolis. Keep in mind that…Read more about Meteorological Spring Ending Wet With Drier Days Ahead[Read More]
The Clearspring Produce Auction is located just 2 miles south of US 20 in Clearspring Township in the Heart of the LaGrange-Elkhart Amish Settlement. It is within easy driving distance of the towns of Shipshewana, Topeka, Emma, and LaGrange. Produce is sold 3 days a week throughout most of the growing season (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday),…Read more about Clearspring Produce Auction Update[Read More]
The presence of syrphid flies, also called hoverflies, is a welcome sight in agricultural landscapes. Syrphid flies contribute to pollination, pest suppression, and decomposition. There are four subfamilies of syrphids: Pipizinae, Eristalinae, Microdontinae, and Syrphinae. Larvae from the Eristalinae subfamily act as recyclers, feeding on decaying organic matter. The Pipizinae subfamily includes species whose larvae…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Syrphid Flies[Read More]