Recent high temperatures have been above optimum for vegetable crops. Around Indiana, from June 12 to 25 the daily high was more than 90°F on at least 5 days and the low overnight was above 70°F on at least 3 dates (Figure 1). High night temperature is a particular concern because it causes plants to…Read more about High Temperature Affects Fruit Set of Vegetable Crops[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
Date: September 4, 2024 Time: 3:00 – 8:00 PM EST Location: Southwest Purdue Ag Center, 4369 N Purdue Rd, Vincennes, IN Dinner Provided Join us for an informative workshop designed specifically for small-scale vegetable producers. This event will be held at the Southwest Purdue Ag Center in Vincennes, IN, on September 4th, 2024, from 3:00…Read more about Irrigation Workshop for Small-Scale Vegetable Producers on Sept. 4[Read More]
This year, the strawberry season throughout Indiana seems to be early by about 10 days to 2 weeks, regardless of the production system. In southern Indiana, I heard the harvest lasted from mid/late April until mid-May in some fields. In central Indiana, the harvest started in mid-May and is nearing its end in early June….Read more about Do June-bearing Strawberries Harvest in June?[Read More]
According to the newly released 2022 Census of Agriculture, Indiana has 248 farms growing strawberries, a 25% increase from 2017’s 199 such farms. This rise is particularly notable because the number of strawberry farms decreased from 250 to 199 between 2012 and 2017. Despite the increase in the number of farms over the past five…Read more about Indiana Strawberry Production Census[Read More]
By now, most watermelons have been planted in southern Indiana, and most fields are currently in the vegetative growth stage. The earliest planted fields have begun to set fruit. In the past two weeks, I have observed herbicide damage in a few watermelon fields. Although the application rate and method were consistent with the labels…Read more about Watermelon Update[Read More]
A new episode of the Strawberry Chat podcast is available. In this episode, we talked with Dr. Marvin Pritts from Cornell University. We discussed the new edition of the Strawberry Production Guide for the Northeast, Midwest, and Eastern Canada. Dr. Marvin introduced us to the plasticulture day-neutral strawberry product system he has been researching recently….Read more about Discussion with Dr. Marvin Pritts about Strawberry Production in the Northeast[Read More]
Harvesting of high tunnel-grown strawberries has started from southern to central Indiana. Early cultivars in open-field plasticulture are fruiting in southern Indiana, with harvest right around the corner. The crops are generally a week earlier than last year. Late cultivars, second-year patches, and fields covered with straw in the winter are slightly lagging behind. Moving…Read more about Indiana Strawberry Crop Status Update[Read More]
In addition to frost protection, disease management is pivotal during the blooming stage, particularly concerning gray mold (caused by Botrytis spp.) and Anthracnose. To protect the fruit, fungicide application should commence at or even before blooming. The pressure of both diseases is heavily influenced by weather conditions, with Botrytis favoring wet and cool climates and…Read more about Strawberry Disease Management Considerations[Read More]
Strawberry growers are at the forefront of the battle against spring frost/freeze challenges. This task undoubtedly is getting more complicated with the current weather. We will have a few cold nights next week with forecasted temperatures around the middle 20s °F in Vincennes. Strawberry growers in Southern Indiana are considering whether to implement frost/freeze protection…Read more about Plasticulture Strawberry Crop Status in Southern Indiana[Read More]
Dear Strawberry Chat listeners, I apologize for not updating the Strawberry Chat Podcast since the beginning of the year. We will be continuing the program. The next episode will be recorded on March 22nd, 12:00-1:00 pm EST. Over the winter break, I received many good questions, primarily about plasticulture strawberry production. In the upcoming episode,…Read more about Strawberry Chat Plasticulture Production Q&A and Recent Research Update[Read More]