The Midwestern Regional Climate Center, the USDA Midwest Climate Hub, and National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) are partnering to determine data needs and develop additional tools, educational resources and other information for producers to better adapt to a variable and changing climate. Changing climatic conditions are having a wide ranging impact on agriculture in the[Read More…]
In a recent grower visit in southwest Indiana, we saw a severe root-knot nematode infestation on high tunnel tomatoes. Soil fumigation is by far the most effective approach to control nematodes, but many soil fumigants are not labeled for greenhouse (high tunnel) use. In addition, the types of equipment that used for soil fumigation are[Read More…]
Southwest Purdue Ag Center High Tunnel Tour Date: Thursday, August 10, 7 p.m.- 9 p.m. (EDT) Location: Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, 4669 North Purdue Road, Vincennes, IN, 47591 Registration: Visit http://tinyurl.com/yc5lqvez or call (812) 886-0198 For more information, contact: Wenjing Guan at guan40@purdue.edu or Dan Egel at egel@purdue.edu During the evening event at Southwest Purdue[Read More…]
A fall broccoli trial was conducted in a high tunnel at Southwest Purdue Ag Center in 2016 to test the potential of growing broccoli in high tunnels after tomatoes. This article describes what we found from the trial. Broccoli is a cool-season, frost-tolerant crop. The harvest portion of broccoli is the compact, slightly dome-shaped head[Read More…]
When mixing fertilizers, it is important to check fertilizer compatibility before application. If incompatible fertilizers are mixed, they form insoluble precipitations that can clog drip emitters and damage sprayers used to apply foliar fertilizers (Figure 1.). This article discusses a few scenarios for which special attention should be paid on the solubility of mixed fertilizers.[Read More…]
Southwest Purdue Ag Center High Tunnel Tour Date: Thursday, August 10, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. (EDT) Location: Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, 4669 North Purdue Road, Vincennes, IN, 47591 Registration: Visit http://tinyurl.com/yc5lqvez or call (812) 886-0198 For more information, contact: Wenjing Guan at guan40@purdue.edu or Dan Egel at egel@purdue.edu During the evening event at Southwest Purdue Agricultural[Read More…]
The Indiana Pesticide Clean Sweep Project is a great opportunity to legally dispose of unwanted chemicals. It is free of charge up to 250 pounds. To dispose of pesticides, complete the 2017 Pesticide Clean Sweep Planning form (the form is attached to the newsletter) and mail, fax or e-mail the completed form to Kevin Neal at Purdue University.[Read More…]
After harvest, storing vegetables in optimal conditions is important to ensure the whole season’s hard work has paid off. This article discusses the optimum storage conditions for tomato, pepper, cucumber, watermelon, cantaloupe and sweet corn. Tomato Ideal storage conditions for tomatoes depend on the maturity stage of picking. If tomatoes are picked at mature green,[Read More…]
Manganese toxicity is a common problem for cantaloupes growing in sandy soils across southwestern Indiana. Because symptom of manganese toxicity can easily be confused with foliar diseases, growers may misdiagnose the problem and waste fungicides by spraying for nonexistent diseases. As we now know that manganese toxicity is a nutrient related disorder caused by low[Read More…]
In the past few weeks, we have received several reports about blossom end rot on tomatoes and peppers as the crops start to set fruit. Blossom end rot is a physiological disorder (not an infectious disease) that commonly occurs on tomatoes and peppers. Initial symptoms of the physiological disorder include dark green or brown water-soaked leisure[Read More…]