Planning your vegetable varieties for the upcoming season? Purdue University has maintained comprehensive records of vegetable variety trials throughout the Midwest since 1999. The Midwest Vegetable Trial Report series offers valuable applied research findings specifically relevant to vegetable and melon production in the Midwest region. Below, you’ll find abstracts from the most recent reports. For…Read more about Data-Driven Decisions: Choosing Vegetable Varieties with Midwest Trial Results[Read More]
Watermelon
Growing watermelons in Indiana isn’t always easy if you have cucumber beetles and spider mites. These pests are some of the most damaging to Midwest cucurbits and are commonly managed with a combination of insecticides and miticides. Unfortunately, chemical management for one pest could interfere with control of another pest. For example, spider mite outbreaks…Read more about Want Fewer Spider Mites? Ease Up on the Beetle Spraying![Read More]
Southern Indiana Vegetable Growers Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with Illiana Watermelon Association Convention (IWA). The meeting will take place on January 17th in French Lick, Indiana. The meeting agenda is posted below. Additional details about the event can be found on the IWA website. Registration and booth questions should be directed to…Read more about Southern Indiana Vegetable Growers & Illiana Watermelon Accociation Winter Meeting[Read More]
Dear Melon Growers and Industry Friends, You are invited to tour the watermelon variety trials conducted at Southwest Purdue Ag Center in Vincennes, IN, on July 24, 10:00 am-1:00 pm EST. The variety trials include: A standard-sized seedless watermelon trial A person-sized seedless watermelon trial A seeded watermelon trial This is a self-guided tour. Extension…Read more about Southwest Purdue Ag Center Watermelon Variety Evaluation Open House on July 24[Read More]
This week, several regions of Indiana experienced excessive rainfall due to the remnants of Hurricane Beryl passing through the state. The heavy rain caused flooding in some vegetable fields. When soil water levels surpass optimal requirements, oxygen is depleted, leading to waterlogging stress for the plants. Figure 1 displays the varied responses of different crops…Read more about Vegetable Responses to Waterlogging Stress[Read More]
By now, most watermelons have been planted in southern Indiana, and most fields are currently in the vegetative growth stage. The earliest planted fields have begun to set fruit. In the past two weeks, I have observed herbicide damage in a few watermelon fields. Although the application rate and method were consistent with the labels…Read more about Watermelon Update[Read More]
The seedcorn maggot, Delia platura, is one of the first pests that will cause damage to vegetables in the spring in our region. This fly, which resembles a house fly but is smaller (Figure 1), begins to emerge from the overwintering pupal stage in the soil in early spring. Upon emergence, the flies quickly aggregate…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Seedcorn Maggot[Read More]
Are you still thinking about varieties for the upcoming season? Purdue has been keeping a record of vegetable variety trials in the Midwest since 1999. The Midwest Vegetable Trial Report series includes reports of applied research relevant to vegetable and melon production in the Midwest. Here are some abstracts of the most recent reports. Visit the Midwest Vegetable…Read more about Selecting Vegetable Varieties for Your Farm[Read More]
The Indiana Vegetable Growers Association (IVGA) will host an evening meeting on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at the Vincennes University Agricultural Center, 4207 North Purdue Road, Vincennes, IN. Registration starts at 5 pm. Purdue researchers will be onsite to discuss production issues. We will also discuss presentation topics for the upcoming winter meetings. Dinner will…Read more about Indiana Vegetable Growers’ Evening Meeting Highlighting Melon Variety Trial Results[Read More]
There are many challenges in growing watermelons. Hail occurring right before harvest time is undoubtedly one of them. In the past weeks, there have been thunderstorms in southern Indiana. Some brought hail. Small hail causes minor damage to watermelon leaves and stems, but big hail can devastate the foliage and cause significant scarring to the…Read more about Watermelon Recovery from Hail Damage, Suggestions from Bob Hochmuth[Read More]