Welcome to the Vegetable Crops Hotline (VCH), Purdue Extension’s exclusive newsletter for people in the business of growing vegetables. In this issue, we highlight disease management. More specifically, the application of fungicides during dry weather, selection of fungicides to avoid resistance, and fusarium wilt management in watermelon. Included are lots of information about educational opportunities[Read More…]
There are a number of factors that go into scheduling foliar fungicide applications. For example, choosing a product with your crop and suspected disease on the label is a must. You will want to select a product with good efficacy. It is important to choose a product with a Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI) and Re-Entry Interval[Read More…]
As I write this, scattered showers are moving through much of southern Indiana. It is unclear yet how much moisture these showers will produce for any given area. What is clear is that May and June have been unusually dry for most of Indiana. How will this dry spell affect overall disease pressure for the[Read More…]
Fusarium wilt of watermelon is one of the most economically important diseases of watermelon in the Midwest. Fusarium wilt typically shows up in watermelon fields just after Memorial Day. This year is no different. After a brief description of the symptoms of the disease, this article will discuss the pluses and minuses of possible fungicide[Read More…]
The harvest season may not have ended yet; it is time to plan for the new planting. This article summarizes options for planting materials and considerations for plasticulture-grown strawberries in the region. Purchasing plug plants Plug plants are like vegetable transplants with actively growing root systems. Plug plants are much easier to establish than bare-root[Read More…]
After several weeks of little-to-no rain, Indiana welcomed some much-needed precipitation over the last several days. While amounts ranged from 1-to-3 inches (except for a few counties in west-northwest Indiana (Figure 1)), the state is still several inches from recovering from the deficit and relieving most impacts. The U.S. Drought Monitor this week (based upon[Read More…]
High Tunnel and Urban Farming Research and Demonstration will be highlighted at the field day. Researchers will discuss: High tunnel tomato and cucumber diseases (Dan Egel, Purdue) High tunnel cucumber two-spotted spider mites and management (Leslie Aviles and Laura Ingwell, Purdue) High tunnel tomato production and benefits of using companion plants (Samantha Willden, Laura Ingwell[Read More…]
The Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day is presented on July 27, 2023, at the Purdue Student Farm in West Lafayette, IN. You can still register for the field day. To reserve your spot, visit https://cvent.me/ewWN3b. Registration closes on July 21, 2023. Students register for free! Please contact Lori Jolly-Brown to receive the discount code[Read More…]
We are happy to announce that Purdue Extension is presenting its annual Fruit and Vegetable Field Day on July 20, 2023, at the Throckmorton/Meigs Horticulture Farm, Lafayette, IN. Registration is now open. To register your spot, visit https://cvent.me/5zevYD A complete schedule of demonstrations is now available on the Vegetable Crops Hotline webpage. Look under the[Read More…]
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