In Spring 2025, we evaluated eight broccoli cultivars at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center. The cultivars included: Asteroid, Castle Dome, Emerald Crown, Eastern Crown, Millennium, Imperial, Green Magic, and Eastern Magic. Seeds were sown in the greenhouse on March 10 and transplanted into the field on April 1. The soils at the site were sandy…Read more about 2025 Spring Broccoli Evaluation at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center[Read More]
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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]
If you haven’t had the pleasure, please allow me to introduce you to the Harlequin bug, Murgantia histronica (Figure 1). This true bug (Order Hemiptera) is equipped with piercing-sucking mouthparts and has a preference for feeding on brassica crops. Unfortunately for us, their feeding results in white blotches on the leaf tissues (Figure 2), and…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Meet the Harlequin Bug![Read More]
Pheromone trap monitoring of corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) and squash vine borer (Melittia cucurbitae) is underway throughout the state. Utilizing trap catches in your area can help inform management decisions and avoid unnecessary pesticide applications. Squash Vine Borer (https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/veg/squash-vine-borer/) For those trappers who are currently reporting, we are catching moths regularly in Allen, Marion, and…Read more about Insect Trapping Updates[Read More]
Dear Valued VCH Readers, Welcome to this week’s edition of the Vegetable Crops Hotline! As summer heat intensifies across Indiana, this week’s edition provides timely guidance to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of the peak growing season. With temperatures running 6 to 13°F above normal and increased humidity triggering pop-up showers throughout the…Read more about From the Editor’s Desk[Read More]
Across the state of Indiana and the country, the first pumpkin and winter squash plants of the season are popping up out of the ground. It is a time of great anticipation and usually triggers a series of phone calls and emails to my inbox. Below, I address some of the frequently asked questions about…Read more about Pumpkin Weed Management FAQs[Read More]
I couldn’t think of a better title this week, thanks to the hot weather we’ve been experiencing and the song by Arrow. While some people enjoy the heat and humidity, I must admit that I don’t find it overly pleasant. Over the past few days, average temperatures have ranged from 6 to 13°F above normal,…Read more about Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot[Read More]
We’ve made it! Meteorological summer started on June 1, but the official start of summer isn’t until June 20. The days are longer, temperatures have risen, and my allergies are in full swing. I let the dogs out last night, and there was still quite a bit of light in the sky just before 10:00…Read more about Meteorological Summer Has Arrived[Read More]
I’m excited to share that the University of Kentucky Center for Crop Diversification (UK CCD) and the Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK) are partnering with Glacial Drift Enterprises to host a Mechanical Weed Control Field Day on September 23 at the University of Kentucky Horticulture Research Farm in Lexington. Like many of your states, Kentucky is home to a…Read more about Mechanical Weed Control Field Day at the University of Kentucky – September 23[Read More]
Aspiring and established cut flower growers across Indiana will soon have a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and grow through a new series of Cut Flower Tours offered by Purdue Extension and hosted throughout the state this season. Hosted in collaboration with leading local growers and agricultural partners, these on-site tours are designed to give current and…Read more about Purdue Extension Launches Statewide Cut Flower Tour Series to Support Indiana Growers[Read More]
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