The time has arrived to start implementing our scouting programs for monitoring and early detection, an integral part of your integrated pest management plan. In high tunnels or other protected environments there are a variety of insect pests that are capable of overwintering and can move into an of the early-season crops that you are…Read more about Early Season Scouting[Read More]
Last year at about this time, we announced that the Southwest Purdue Ag Center (SWPAC) would be closed to visitors due to concerns about the pandemic. At this time, SWPAC is still closed to visitors. We have devised an alternative method of dropping off samples that will avoid face-to-face contact. Follow these instructions to drop…Read more about Vegetable Samples for the SW Purdue Ag Center[Read More]
A natural wonder will occur in 15 states this year: the emergence of the Brood X, 17-year periodical cicadas! Also known as “17-year or 13-year locusts” the last mass emergence of these insects occurred in 2004. Now, 17 years later, the immature cicadas will emerge from the ground, molt one last time to gain wings,…Read more about Periodical Cicadas are Coming, but Your Vegetables are Safe![Read More]
There is a frost and freeze warning for 4/20, 4/21, 4/22. Vegetable growers should be prepared to take protective actions on early-planted warm-season vegetables (tomato, cucumber, pepper, summer squash, bean etc.). For high tunnel growers, medium-weight floating row covers should provide sufficient protection. Growers should close the structure when inside temperatures drop below 80°F to…Read more about Frost and Freeze Warning[Read More]
To regular readers of the Vegetable Crop Hotline, it may seem that we include an article about tomato spotted wilt virus every year out of custom. However, we have again observed large outbreaks of this disease. Please read the article below carefully if you raise tomato transplants or mature tomatoes in a greenhouse or high…Read more about Tips for Managing Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV)[Read More]
March wrapped up as one of Indiana’s wettest (44th wettest out of 126 years) and warmest (16th warmest). It was marked by unusually warm days and then cool days. Was it ever just average? Certainly, most days fell within the climatological range of temperatures. Precipitation seemed to be partial to the southern part of the…Read more about April Showers or Lingering Drought?[Read More]
Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue University is looking to hire an Extension Organic Agriculture Specialist. Detailed information about this position is available at Extension Organic Agriculture Specialist (purdue.edu) If you know someone who might be interested for the position, please encourage them to apply. Thank you for helping spreading the word.
Last week when the heavy frost hit us, air temperature at Southwest Purdue Ag Center (SWPAC) in Vincennes, IN dropped to 24°F. We did not take action for frost protection on the strawberries growing with the annual plasticulture system, considering only two early cultivars start to bloom at that time. However, this appears to be…Read more about Strawberry Frost Protection[Read More]