This is the final issue of the Vegetable Crops Hotline (VCH) for 2019. Subscribers who receive a paper copy in the mail need to renew. A renewal form is included with this issue. We are providing up-to a three years’ subscription of VCH at a reduced price (1 year for $15, 2 years for $25, and 3…Read more about Time to Renew[Read More]
Cool nights have finally arrived after the first week of October. Before, we had quite a few days when temperatures were above 90°F. The unusual high temperature has caused problems on early-planted broccoli. Broccoli is a heat-sensitive crop. The critical period for heat sensitivity is when plants shift growing tips from vegetative growth to flower…Read more about Broccoli under Heat Stress[Read More]
This disease was recently observed in southern Indiana. Moderate damage to leaves in broccoli does not usually cause yield or quality loss. However, Alternaria leaf spot may also affect Chinese cabbage, bok choy and leafy brassicas such as cabbage. The most common symptom is a leaf spot (Figure 1). The lesions start out small; as…Read more about Alternaria Leaf Spot of Broccoli[Read More]
The fungus Rhizoctonia can be a nuisance to many vegetable growers. Readers may recognize this unusual name as a cause of many diseases such as damping off and root rot in many different crops. This article is about Rhizoctonia as the cause of wirestem in broccoli. Rhizoctonia may affect several brassica crops such as broccoli,…Read more about Wirestem of Broccoli[Read More]
Although high tunnels make it possible for Indiana farmers to grow vegetables year-round, many growers may choose to end the production season in the fall. After a busy summer, it is not unusual that off-season management is overlooked. Nevertheless, these good management practices determine the success of the next year. It is an old lessen,…Read more about High Tunnel Off-season Management[Read More]
As the production season winds down there are two weed-related news items that producers should be aware of: New Requirements for Users of Paraquat Herbicide. Paraquat dichloride is the active ingredient in products such as Gramoxone®, Devour®, Cyclone®, and Quik-Quat®. Earlier this year the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the following changes to paraquat requirements:…Read more about Weed Science Updates[Read More]
I am a Northern Michigan native that grew up on a specialty crops farm where I spent many days outdoors playing in the field and helping my family plant and harvest crops. I pursued a bachelor’s in Entomology at Michigan State University and received my degree in 2015. While I was at MSU, I spent…Read more about Are you Interested in Growing Hemp? A Message from Purdue Hemp Extension Specialist[Read More]
The Illiana Vegetable Growers Symposium will be held Tuesday, January 7, 2020, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central Time, at Teibel’s Restaurant in Schererville, Indiana. This symposium, sponsored by Purdue Extension and University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, offers commercial vegetable growers and market farmers opportunities to learn more about pest management, production practices,…Read more about Illiana Vegetable Growers Symposium[Read More]
Please join us for the grand opening of the Purdue Extension Food Safety Training Hub, located in the newly constructed Vincennes University Agricultural Center. Located on Highway 41 adjacent to SWPAC, the new facility features lab and office space, a large postharvest research area, classroom and audio-visual room for use in food safety programming. The…Read more about Purdue Extension Food Safety Training Hub Open House[Read More]
Date: November 14, 2019 5:00 pm (EST) Location: Southwest Purdue Ag Center (SWPAC) 4369 N. Purdue Road, Vincennes, IN 47591 This event is a great opportunity to learn about watermelon, cantaloupe and other specialty melon production regardless if you have been growing watermelon all your life or are new to this crop. The meeting will start…Read more about Southwest Indiana Melon and Vegetable Growers Winter Meeting[Read More]
Purdue University prohibits discrimination against any member of the University community on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran. This material may be available in alternative formats. 1-888-EXT-INFO Disclaimer: Reference to products in this publication is not intended to be an endorsement to the exclusion of others which may have similar uses. Any person using products listed in this publication assumes full responsibility for their use in accordance with current directions of the manufacturer.