Driving across IN now, it is not uncommon to see many recently built high tunnels standing along the roadsides. These structures have become an important tool for farmers to extend production seasons of vegetable and fruit crops. Compared with traditional greenhouses, high tunnel demand much less energy as they are heated by solar energy and[Read More…]
Pickin’ and Packin’: 2016 Postharvest Produce Workshop Date: July 12, 2016, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM (EDT) Location: Purdue University, Nelson Hall of Food Science, Rm 1195, 745 Agriculture Mall Dr. West Lafayette, IN 47906 Workshops will be offered for updating produce growers on the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Rule and other food safety issues. It[Read More…]
Last week, the highest temperature reached 110°F for a few successive days inside of our high tunnels. As a result, we observed some blossom drop on tomatoes. More information on high temperature effects on tomato fruit set can be found here. In addition to blossom drop, high temperature and high light intensity contribute to sunscald injury,[Read More…]
Pickin’ and Packin’: 2016 Postharvest Produce Workshop Date: July 6, 2016, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM (EDT) Location: Oaktown Produce Depot. 13990 N. Old Hwy 41, Oaktown, IN 47561 and Date: July 12, 2016, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM (EDT) Location: Purdue University, Nelson Hall of Food Science, Rm 1195, 745 Agriculture Mall Dr. West Lafayette, IN 47906 Two[Read More…]
Beginning Farmer Tours June 25, 2016: Silverthorn Farm, Rossville. Organic fruits and vegetables, pastured pork and working with restaurants. July 14, 2016: Melon Acres, Oaktown. Community-supported agriculture and agritourism. Sept. 29, 2016: River Ridge Farm, Roann. Four-season vegetable farming, operating an on-farm store, and farm-to-school programs. The tours are free, but registration is required. Registration at https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/wk_group.asp?wk_group=BeginFarmer For more[Read More…]
If you visit the Vegetable Crops Hotline on-line, be sure to visit our new addition: Veggie Extras. The articles that you’ll find when you click on the Veggie Extra link include brief observations, photos, research updates or in-depth subjects that we hope the vegetable professional might find interesting. Articles that are in the Veggie Extras[Read More…]
We sometimes hear that excessive nitrogen could delay fruit set, stimulate excessive vine growth, and depress overall yield of pumpkins, but it is often unclear how much nitrogen is too much. This article reviews research on nitrogen fertilizer rates for pumpkins, and discusses the potential factors that might affect the recommended nitrogen rate. In a[Read More…]
Last week we had a report of an infestation of Colorado potato beetle larvae on tomatoes in a high tunnel (Figure 1). Potato beetles are a pest of most of the solanaceous crops (potato, tomato, eggplant, pepper), but they rarely become a serious problem on tomato in Indiana. In addition, we have not seen them in[Read More…]
I have observed leaf mold of tomato in greenhouses and high tunnels recently. This article will discuss this disease and management options. In the last issue of the Hotline, I discussed Botrytis gray mold. I noted how gray mold is favored by the cool, cloudy weather we experienced earlier this spring. The warmer and sunnier weather we have[Read More…]
We recently published an article in the Hotline about gray mold of tomato. That article and more details about this disease can be found here. In this short note, we want to share examples of the relationship of gray mold and tomato plant injury. In the figure 1 above, a pruning injury of tomato in a commercial[Read More…]