Dear Valued VCH Readers,
Welcome to issue 750, the third edition of the 2025 Vegetable Crops Hotline newsletter!
Indiana has undoubtedly experienced a stormy couple of weeks. I hope you all are doing well. Purdue Extension has a great resource to help you prepare for extreme events https://www.purdue.edu/engineering/ABE/INPREPared/.
Next week, temperatures across the state might drop into the 20s overnight. Be prepared to protect your crops. We might experience some hard freezes.
Here are some great resources you should consider reading:
Effects of Cold Weather on Horticultural Plants in Indiana. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/HO/HO-203-W.pdf
Strawberry Frost Protection. https://vegcropshotline.org/article/prepare-for-strawberry-frost-protection/
Applying Row Covers for Winter Protection in Plasticulture Strawberry Production. https://vegcropshotline.org/article/applying-row-covers-for-winter-protection-in-plasticulture-strawberry-production/
Slitted and Floating Row Covers. https://nevegetable.org/cultural-practices/slitted-and-floating-row-covers
Growers and Purdue Extension Educators
Your input and expertise make this newsletter a truly useful resource. If you have hot topics you’d like us to cover, success stories to share, or questions for our Extension specialists, please get in touch with us at plangenh@purdue.edu or contact the specialist directly. We also welcome high-quality photos of pest issues, unusual symptoms, or innovative production practices you’ve implemented on your farm.
Website Links in Newsletter Articles
Frequently, we include links to websites or publications available online. If you can’t access these resources, don’t hesitate to contact your local Purdue Extension office or us to request a hard copy of the information.
Midwest Vegetable Production Guide
The 2025 Midwest Vegetable Production guide is now available for growers to visit online at mwveguide.org, or you can download and print a guide from your computer at mwveguide.org/guide. The guide can also be purchased for $15 per copy. Contact your Extension Office or Stephen Meyers (slmeyeres@purdue.edu) directly to buy a copy.
Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports
Are you still considering purchasing vegetable seeds? The Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports feature many articles to help you make an informed decision. The resource also hosts production-related research results.
Best regards,
Petrus Langenhoven
Clinical Assistant Professor and Vegetable Extension Specialist
Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Purdue University