As pumpkin season approaches, proper harvest timing and post-harvest handling become critical for maintaining fruit quality and maximizing storage life. Whether you’re growing Halloween jack-o’-lanterns or pie pumpkins for the holiday market, following best practices through harvest and storage will help ensure your season ends on a successful note. Determining the Right Harvest Time For…Read more about Maximizing Pumpkin Quality: From Harvest to Storage[Read More]
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If you have any stakes in agriculture, you may have noticed a fairly rapid drying trend as summer has come to a close. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor on September 2, 76 percent of Indiana is considered abnormally dry—up from just 26 percent one week earlier. Moderate drought conditions have also expanded from less…Read more about Abnormally Dry and Drought Conditions Are On The Rise[Read More]
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]
Dear Valued VCH Readers, Welcome to this week’s edition of the Vegetable Crops Hotline! As we move deeper into September, two critical factors are shaping Indiana’s agricultural landscape: the rapid onset of drought conditions and the approaching pumpkin harvest season. The U.S. Drought Monitor reveals a dramatic shift in our state’s moisture status—from just 26%…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]
Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 1:30–5:00 p.m. EDTLocation: Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC)Address: 4369 N. Purdue Road, Vincennes, IN 47591 Registration: https://tinyurl.com/SWPACpumpkin • or call 812-886-0198 Questions? Contact Wenjing Guan (guan40@purdue.edu), Valerie Clingerman (clingerman@purdue.edu), or Barb Joyner (joynerb@purdue.edu). Tentative agenda 1:30–2:00 p.m. – Registration2:00–2:10 p.m. – Welcome to SWPAC — Dennis Nowaskie, SWPAC superintendent2:10–2:30 p.m….Read more about Southwest Purdue Ag Center Pumpkin Field Day[Read More]
Basil downy mildew has appeared in northern Indiana. As described in a previous article, this pathogen does not overwinter; instead, it must blow in from the south. It can move rapidly through the crop, making it unmarketable. Earlier this year, Meg McGrath, plant pathologist retired from Cornell, notified us that Rutgers researchers are requesting…Read more about Basil Downy Mildew Samples Needed for Research[Read More]
Keeping produce safe and meeting buyers’ and regulatory expectations starts with strong cleaning and sanitation practices. Farms that implement proper procedures not only protect public health but also improve efficiency and build trust with customers. To help growers and farm workers strengthen these skills, we invite you to join us on September 8th from 1:00…Read more about Cleaning and Sanitation Workshop[Read More]
Maybe after you finish your vegetable harvest, you mentally say, “I’m done this year,” and wait to start again next year. But a cover crop could benefit you in several ways. By researching now, you can be prepared to install cover crops this year. Like many farmers, home gardeners have been exploring and using cover…Read more about Using Cover Crops in the Home Garden[Read More]
Corn Earworm https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/veg/cornearworm/ Our dent corn is through with pollination, leaving only our late plantings of sweet corn as a resource for the abundant moths in the landscape. Our thresholds are back down to 1 moth per night AND green silk on the plant to trigger a pesticide application. Did you know that corn earworm…Read more about Insect Trapping Updates[Read More]
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