Announcement from University of Illinois specialty crop entomology lab: We are monitoring for melonworms throughout the state this year! Last year, several of our pumpkin growers in the area had a late season infestation of caterpillars eating their pumpkins. The specialty crops entomology lab and U of I Extension are going to be investigating this…Read more about Melonworm Monitoring in Illinois Cucurbit Crops[Read More]
Time: Thursday, May 12, 2022, 1:30-4:00 pm EST Location: Southwest Purdue Ag Center, 4369 N. Purdue Rd, Vincennes, IN, 47591 Register: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dgK5N8Ws9m2cJWC, or call 812-886-0198 Visit strawberry research at Southwest Purdue Agriculture Center; see strawberry production on a plastic culture system, in high tunnels, and in bench systems. Discuss season extension in strawberry production, and…Read more about Strawberry Field Day[Read More]
Listen to Strawberry Chat Episode 2. The episode was recorded on April 6, 2022, it featured Dr. Bruce Bordelon talking about spring activities for the strawberry matted-row system. Are you interested in participating live in the next strawberry chat? It will be 12:00 -1:00 pm, May 4, 2022. Our guests will be Dr. Janna Beckerman…Read more about Strawberry Chat, April Episode Recording and May Episode Register[Read More]
A large proportion of watermelon acres in Indiana are not currently using drip irrigation. Farmers may choose not to use drip irrigation because precipitation is usually abundant in most years for watermelon production. There is a desire to reduce costs and/or fear that over-irrigation may increase the risk of mature watermelon vine decline, a disease…Read more about Research Update on Nitrogen Management in Non-Irrigated Watermelon Production[Read More]
Tomatoes grown in a controlled environment are exposed to different conditions from their original habitats. As a result, some plants may respond to the controlled environment with abnormal symptoms. Leaf and stem curling and distortion are symptoms we may see in the early season in greenhouses (Figure 1). This symptom might be caused by ethylene…Read more about Leaf and Stem Curling on Young Tomato Plants[Read More]
Tell us about your opinions on vegetable grafting practices All growers are eligible whether you use vegetable grafting practices or not. Researchers at the University of Florida, in collaboration with Clemson University, North Carolina State University, The Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Kansas State University, Washington State University, University of Arizona, University of California, Davis, and USDA – Agricultural Research…Read more about Vegetable Grafting Survey[Read More]
Purdue recently joined and became one of twenty US states that are in the NEWA network. NEWA is a partnership of land grant universities and grower associations. If you live in one of the states listed, you can buy a weather station for your farm and connect to NEWA. For Indiana growers, this means your membership is…Read more about A NEWA Deal for Indiana[Read More]
At the 2022 Southwest Indiana Melon and Vegetable Growers Annual Meeting, 17 watermelon farmers and 2 agricultural professionals shared their irrigation and fertilization management practices used for watermelon production in Indiana. These individuals grow or provide services for watermelon acres from less than 50 acres up to 2,000 acres over the past five years. We…Read more about Watermelon Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization Methods Commonly Used in Indiana[Read More]
Fertilizer prices have increased dramatically this year. More than ever, we need to think carefully about whether we are using fertilizers wisely. This article will be one of a series to help vegetable growers reevaluate their fertilizer use strategies. One of the lessons I learned in Plant Nutrition class in graduate school was the 4Rs…Read more about Reevaluation of Fertilizer Application Practices[Read More]
Phytophthora blight caused by the pathogen Phytophthora capsici is one of the most important diseases in pepper production (Figure 1). The disease is difficult to control once established in a field. Using host resistance is an important approach in managing this disease. In past years, Rutgers Cooperative Extension has evaluated new bell pepper cultivars and…Read more about Bell Pepper Varieties for Phytophthora Resistance[Read More]