Solar energy is responsible for so many processes on Earth’s surface. From growing plants and driving water movement across the planet to providing heat and powering solar panels, solar energy plays a central role in almost everything. On April 8, 2024, the total solar eclipse will be viewed across the Hoosier State. Find out how…Read more about Eclipse Citizen Scientists Call-Out[Read More]
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Precipitation is one of the most variable weather phenomena with such an incredible local impact on communities. Too little can lead to drought and water supply issues, whereas too much can lead to flooding and infrastructure damage. Across Indiana, there are approximately 120 volunteer observers (Figure 1) who provide daily temperature and precipitation data to…Read more about Volunteer Weather Observers Needed to Help Measure Rain, Hail, and Snow[Read More]
Common names: Henbit, henbit dead nettle, henbit nettle, blind nettle, bee nettle, and giraffe head. Latin name: Lamium amplexicaule. “Lamium” is derived from the Latin for “throat,” referencing the flower tube’s elongated shape. “amplexicaule”, also derived from the Latin, means “embracing the stem,” describing the upper leaves of henbit that encircle the stem. Family: Lamiaceae…Read more about Weed Spotlight: Henbit[Read More]
Strawberry growers are at the forefront of the battle against spring frost/freeze challenges. This task undoubtedly is getting more complicated with the current weather. We will have a few cold nights next week with forecasted temperatures around the middle 20s °F in Vincennes. Strawberry growers in Southern Indiana are considering whether to implement frost/freeze protection…Read more about Plasticulture Strawberry Crop Status in Southern Indiana[Read More]
Dear Strawberry Chat listeners, I apologize for not updating the Strawberry Chat Podcast since the beginning of the year. We will be continuing the program. The next episode will be recorded on March 22nd, 12:00-1:00 pm EST. Over the winter break, I received many good questions, primarily about plasticulture strawberry production. In the upcoming episode,…Read more about Strawberry Chat Plasticulture Production Q&A and Recent Research Update[Read More]
The 2023 Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day was held at the Purdue Student Farm in West Lafayette, Indiana. With 105 participants registered, the in-person event featured an array of on-farm demonstrations and was a resounding success. Nearly 84% of attendees reported that they learned something they didn’t know before. A third (34%) indicated they…Read more about 2024 Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day – Registration Open[Read More]
Purdue Extension presented its second Fruit and Vegetable Field Day post-pandemic at the Throckmorton Purdue Agriculture Center’s Meigs Horticulture Research Farm, located in Lafayette, on July 20th, 2023. Extension Specialists and Graduate Students presented specialty crop research to 90 attendees. Attendees had only good things to say about the event. ‘It was an interesting program,…Read more about 2024 Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Field Day – Registration Open[Read More]
Over the past year, we conducted a comparative study on microclimate conditions within caterpillar tunnels and high tunnels at five farms in Indiana. This initiative was prompted by the growing interest in employing caterpillar tunnels for season-extension vegetable production among small and diversified farms. Caterpillar tunnels, typically lower in height than permanent high tunnels, stand…Read more about Comparison of Microenvironment between Caterpillar Tunnels and Permanent High Tunnels[Read More]
Featured Article Many Indiana vegetable crops begin life as transplants. If lack of nutrients, lack of light, disease, or other problems slow growth during this stage, it may reduce establishment success and/or growth and yield in the field or high tunnel. Good management of the following factors should lead to healthy transplants (Figure 1). Time…Read more about Planning for Successful Vegetable Transplant Production[Read More]
Welcome to the Vegetable Crops Hotline (VCH), Purdue Extension’s exclusive newsletter for people in the business of growing vegetables. What’s new in 2024? The VCH will publish seventeen newsletter issues in 2024. The publication day has been moved to Friday (it was on Thursday in the past). The decision was made to accommodate articles from…Read more about From the Editor’s Desk[Read More]
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