The Purdue cut flower team is currently conducting cut flower demonstrations at three locations in Indiana. In this article, we provide updates and observations on cool-season flowers from the three sites, including open-field and high-tunnel plantings in Vincennes, an open-field site in Indianapolis, and an open-field site in West Lafayette, representing southern, central, and northern…Read more about Spring Planted Cool-Season Cut Flower Update – Snapdragon, Stock, Ornamental Cabbage[Read More]
Wenjing Guan
Vegetable Crops Hotline Editor & Clinical Engagement Associate Professor
Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Area(s) of Interest: Commercial Vegetable and Melon Production
Wenjing Guan's website
Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Area(s) of Interest: Commercial Vegetable and Melon Production
Wenjing Guan's website
We have experienced several cool days over the past two weeks. One watermelon trial at Southwest Purdue Ag Center was planted on May 4, and during the two days following transplanting, recorded air temperatures dropped below 50°F. We evaluated plant survival 9 days after transplanting. In this trial, we had grafted and non-grafted seedless watermelons…Read more about Watermelon Plant Survival[Read More]
Strawberry harvest has begun in southern Indiana, with growers reporting that the season started at least a week earlier than usual. We experienced a frost event in mid-March, along with a few light, scattered frosts afterward. Fortunately, with the use of row covers, crop damage has been minimal across the region. Overall, the spring was…Read more about Plasticulture Strawberry Update in Southern Indiana[Read More]
Root-knot nematodes (RKN, Meloidogyne spp.) are among the most damaging plant-parasitic nematodes in vegetable production systems. Infective juveniles hatch from eggs in the soil, find and penetrate host plant roots. They migrate to the vascular tissue, where they establish specialized feeding sites, develop into adults, and reproduce by laying eggs on the surface of roots….Read more about Root-knot Nematodes and Their Populations Identified in Indiana[Read More]
Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are a group of microscopic, worm-like organisms that live in soil or plant tissues and cause damage to crop production. While some species infect aboveground plant parts such as leaves and stems, those of greatest concern across a wide range of vegetables are soil-dwelling species that feed on plant roots….Read more about Understanding Nematodes in Soils of Diversified Vegetable Farms in Indiana[Read More]
A cold snap is forecast for this weekend, although temperature predictions vary slightly across weather sources. At the same time, some early plantings of watermelon and cantaloupe are already in the field in southern Indiana, or seedlings have already arrived and are waiting to be planted. What steps can growers take to protect these young…Read more about Coming Cold Snap: When to Plant Watermelons and Considerations Under Suboptimal Temperature Conditions[Read More]
Diversified produce growers and u-pick operations are increasingly exploring cut-flower production as a way to broaden their markets and increase revenue. To support this interest, our team of Extension specialists and educators is establishing demonstration sites in Lafayette, Indianapolis, and Vincennes, spanning north-south Indiana. In this article, we share lessons we’ve learned from our vegetable-growing…Read more about Starting Cut-Flower from Seeds: Lessons Learned from Demonstration Sites[Read More]
When growers are asked about the top challenges in plasticulture strawberry production, frost/freeze damage is almost always at the top of the list. Anyone living in Indiana understands how unpredictable spring weather can be. This year, in southern Indiana, we experienced warm periods with average daily temperatures exceeding 60°F in mid-February, followed by sharp drops…Read more about Spread out Flower Timing to Reduce Spring Frost/Freeze Risks in Plasticulture Strawberry Production[Read More]
Cut flower production continues to expand rapidly across Indiana, with many farms adding flowers as a high-value crop, an agritourism attraction, or a way to diversify their operations. To better support growers in this emerging sector, Purdue Extension launched a new project to better serve Indiana Cut Flower Farmers, funded by Purdue’s AgSEED program. One…Read more about Free Diagnostic for Cut Flower Samples[Read More]
This Tri-state high tunnel school webinar series is organized by Extension educators and specialists from three states: Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. Different topics are designed for Beginner, Intermediate, and advanced high-tunnel growers. All sessions will be hosted via Zoom every Wednesday, 12:30-1:30 pm Eastern Time from February 25 to April 1, 2026. The webinars are…Read more about Tri-State High Tunnel School Webinar Series[Read More]