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]
Vegetable Crops - General
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]
This article was originally published by the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University. The Managing Conservation Plantings series provides landowners and managers with science-based recommendations to combat many of the common issues that arise in native warm-season grass and wildflower conservation plantings. From battling problematic plants like sericea lespedeza (Figure 1) to…Read more about Managing Conservation Plantings Series Provides Science-Based Recommendations for Landowners, Managers[Read More]
Submit your content ideas for the 2026 Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference. Do you want to hear from someone in particular or about a specific topic at this year’s newly combined conference? If so, please scan the QR code or follow the link below to submit your suggestions. The survey will be open until…Read more about Shape the Conversation: Submit Your Topics for Indiana’s 2026 Horticulture and Small Farm Conferences[Read More]
Freeze-drying is rapidly gaining momentum as a method for home food preservation as freeze-dryer units become more accessible to the general public. This unique process involves removing water from a food product to preserve its color, nutritional value, and structural integrity. In a recent Extension publication, two Purdue University researchers discuss food safety, dehydrating versus…Read more about New Publication – Freeze-drying Food Preservation[Read More]