This article provides a summary of information provided by Purdue Extension specialists at the 2025 Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC) Pumpkin Field Day. Diverse Pumpkin and Winter Squashes Dr. Liz Maynard gave a presentation on the diversity of pumpkins and winter squashes, covering different market types, their botanical classifications, maturity indicators, and storage life. Dr….Read more about 2025 SWPAC Pumpkin Field Day Recap[Read More]
Stephen Meyers
Common names: common waterhemp, tall waterhemp Latin name: Amaranthus tuberculatus Family: Amaranthaceae (pigweed family) General description and identification Waterhemp is an upright, tall, summer annual herbaceous plant. It is native to the United States and has historically been found in waterways and floodplains. Today, waterhemp is often found in disturbed habitats, such as agricultural fields….Read more about Weed Spotlight: Waterhemp[Read More]
Weeds are one of the most persistent and costly challenges in agriculture. Yield losses due to weeds can be severe, and weed management options are often limited, especially for organic and small-scale specialty crop growers. While many small-scale producers rely on hand-weeding or tillage, there are alternative tools that can improve weed control and reduce…Read more about Weed Management Methods for Small Farms[Read More]
From 2022 to 2024, we evaluated the performance of 15 June-bearing strawberry cultivars grown in a plasticulture system using black and white-on-black plastic mulches at two locations in Indiana: the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center in Vincennes, IN, and the Meigs Horticulture Research Farm in Lafayette, IN. During the experimental period, monthly average temperatures at the…Read more about Performance of 15 June-bearing Strawberry Cultivars Grown in Plasticulture System for Two Seasons in Indiana[Read More]
Across the state of Indiana and the country, the first pumpkin and winter squash plants of the season are popping up out of the ground. It is a time of great anticipation and usually triggers a series of phone calls and emails to my inbox. Below, I address some of the frequently asked questions about…Read more about Pumpkin Weed Management FAQs[Read More]
From 2022-2024, we evaluated the performance 15 strawberry cultivars grown in plasticulture system using black and white-on-black plastic mulches (Figure 1) at two locations: Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center in Vincennes, IN (USDA hardiness zone 6b), and Meigs Purdue Agricultural Center in Lafayette, IN (USDA hardiness zone 6a). Strawberries were harvested for two seasons. Plug plants…Read more about Performance of Strawberries on Black vs. White Plastic Mulches in Indiana[Read More]
A new supplemental label allows for Sharpen® herbicide to be applied to mint in Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. This registration follows several years of field trials conducted across the Pacific Northwest and Midwest, including research at Purdue University. This research was supported by local mint farmer organizations, the Mint Industry Research Council,…Read more about Sharpen® Herbicide Now Labeled For Use in Mint in Select States[Read More]
Common names: Common ragweed, annual ragweed, hogweed, hay-fever weed, Roman wormweed, and bitterweed. Latin name: Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. “Ambrosia” is from Greek mythology and refers to the food or drink of the gods, often associated with granting immortality. Meanwhile, “artemisiifolia” indicates that the foliage of common ragweed looks like the foliage of plants from the…Read more about Weed Sptolight: Common Ragweed[Read More]
Common names: purslane, pusley, pursley, wild portulaca, common portulaca, little hooweed, low pigweed Latin name: Portulaca oleracea L. Family: Portulacaceae (Purslane family) Life Cycle Common purslane is a summer annual that extends along the ground with its thick, fleshy stems and leaves (Figure 1). Thanks to its ability to reproduce not only by seeds but…Read more about Weed Spotlight: Common Purslane[Read More]
Earlier this year, FMC released a supplemental label for Anthem® Flex herbicide that includes additional uses for potatoes and mint. Anthem® Flex is a premix product containing pyroxasulfone (the active ingredient in Zidua® SC) and carfentrazone (the active ingredient in Aim® EC). Carfentrazone, a postemergence contact herbicide, is registered for use in Indiana for both…Read more about New Anthem® Flex Supplemental Herbicide Label for Mint and Potatoes[Read More]