Dear Valued Vegetable Crops Hotline Readers,
Welcome to issue 778 of the Vegetable Crops Hotline newsletter! Our mission remains steadfast: to deliver crucial updates on pest management, production practices, food safety, and marketing opportunities that directly impact your farming operations.
What’s Inside This Issue
Late summer has brought its share of challenges to Indiana vegetable growers, and this issue reflects that. Following historic mid-August rainfall in east-central Indiana, we share observations from pumpkin fields across the region, where the extent of water damage varied widely from farm to farm, underscoring just how much site selection matters. On the weed control front, our weed science specialist invites you to look back on the 2026 season and ask what worked and what didn’t, beginning with how rainfall and soil moisture shaped this year’s weed management outcomes. Growers can also learn more at the Mechanical Weed Control Field Day on September 16, which features a tradeshow, tool discussions, and in-field demonstrations, with registration discounts for organic and organic-curious growers from Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois.
For those establishing plasticulture strawberries this fall, we offer a reminder that planting depth is critical for both plug and bare-root plants, with examples of what can go wrong drawn from recent farm visits. Finally, Safe Produce Indiana has released a four-part video series that walks through the USDA Harmonized GAP Third-Party Audit, using the Purdue Student Farm as a case study to help growers understand the audit scope, documentation, and preparation.
Subscription Information
Hard Copy Subscribers
If you need a hard-copy subscription form and don’t have internet access, please contact your nearest Purdue Extension office. Extension Educators, please download the hard-copy subscription form.
Digital Subscribers
If you receive the newsletter via email, you do not need to take any action. You will continue to receive the newsletter on the issue date.
New digital subscribers can now register their email address
In addition, digital subscribers receive emails with information about articles or announcements that need your immediate attention. These articles will be posted under Hot Topics on the VCH webpage and will be included in the next issue. All previous articles published in the VCH newsletter are available on the Vegetable Crops Hotline website.
Website Links in Newsletter Articles
We frequently include links to websites or online publications. 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 2026 Midwest Vegetable Production Guide is now available for growers, or you can download and print a guide from your computer. The guide is also available for $20 per copy. Contact your Extension Office or Stephen Meyers directly to purchase a copy.
Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports
Are you considering purchasing vegetable seeds? The Midwest Vegetable Trial Report features many articles to help you make an informed decision. The resource also hosts production-related research results.
Contact Us If You Have a Story to Share
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 email Petrus langenhoven or reach out to the specialist directly. We also welcome high-quality photos of pest issues, unusual symptoms, or innovative production practices you’ve implemented on your farm.
As always, thank you for reading, and happy growing!
Petrus Langenhoven, Editor
Clinical Assistant Professor and Vegetable Extension Specialist
Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Purdue University