Thanks to growers’ collaboration and help from Superior Ag, we collected plant tissue samples from 12 watermelon fields at different crop growing stages in Southern Indiana in the 2020 season. In a previous article, we discussed results about magnesium and potassium. In this article, we will discuss another nutrient, Sulfur (S). Sulfur deficiency has become[Read More…]
This article addresses considerations of using grafted watermelon plants in Indiana. Choosing rootstocks Interspecific hybrid squash is the most widely used watermelon rootstock. Many cultivars of the hybrid squash rootstocks that have been developed by different companies, share similar genetic background and thus similar characteristics. All of them have outstanding resistance to Fusarium wilt, but,[Read More…]
The vegetable crops have all been harvested and it’s time to just relax, right? Maybe. However, the decisions you make this fall will influence your weed control next spring. In all likelihood, you did not control EVERY weed during the growing season. Inevitably, there were weeds that escaped control. If so, these weeds have already[Read More…]
The rain events northern Indiana saw last week may be the last significant precipitation seen in Indiana for the next several weeks. The US Drought Monitor has already place most of the state in abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions and there doesn’t seem to be much relief in sight. South-central Indiana’s precipitation amounts so[Read More…]
This time of year you are likely getting bogged down in the fight against pests. The accumulation of plant pathogens, insects, and climatic conditions favoring their growth can make the last few weeks of harvest feel like the toughest point in the battle. For cucurbit growers in particular, there are a number of insect pests[Read More…]
North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) will host a Farmer Rancher Grant Program grant webinar on Tuesday, September 22 from 4-5:30pm CDT. This webinar will help guide participants through the process of submitting a grant proposal to NCR-SARE’s Farmer Rancher grant program. Join Joan Benjamin, NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher Grant Program Coordinator, to learn how to[Read More…]
Cover crops have been shown to improve water and soil quality, reduce erosion and capture nutrients. Choosing the right cover crop, however, can be difficult. The Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC) —made up of representatives from 12 Midwest states and universities, including Purdue, the province of Ontario and other agricultural stakeholders — is rolling out an improved cover[Read More…]
Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is a plant disease caused by a virus that infects more than 1,000 species of plants, including ornamentals and vegetables. Visual symptoms of TSWV vary depending on the plant that is infected, but general characteristics include yellow or brown ringspots on fruit and small, dark-colored ringspots on foliage that may[Read More…]
Phytophthora blight was a serious disease this past season. As a result, I have had many questions about managing this disease. The following article is an update of a previous article on this subject. The questions I have been asked have ranged from what do I spray to how does this disease work? Therefore, I[Read More…]
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