Welcome to the Vegetable Crops Hotline (VCH), Purdue Extension’s exclusive newsletter for people in the business of growing vegetables. What a week it has been. The remnants of Hurricane Beryl caused heavy rainfall in several locations in Indiana, and very windy conditions caused damage. The Meigs Horticulture Facility, part of the Throckmorton Purdue Ag Center,…Read more about From the Editor’s Desk[Read More]


The remnants of Hurricane Beryl brought much-needed rain to the state, although some areas experienced excessive totals. In addition, sporadic power outages were reported as a result of wind gusts exceeding 30 mph. The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) volunteer network once again proved essential, with observations ranging from just under 0.4 inches…Read more about Remnants of Hurricane Beryl Bring Relief and Challenges to Indiana[Read More]


This week, several regions of Indiana experienced excessive rainfall due to the remnants of Hurricane Beryl passing through the state. The heavy rain caused flooding in some vegetable fields. When soil water levels surpass optimal requirements, oxygen is depleted, leading to waterlogging stress for the plants. Figure 1 displays the varied responses of different crops…Read more about Vegetable Responses to Waterlogging Stress[Read More]


Common names: Yellow nutsedge, yellow nutgrass, nut sedge, chufa, earth almond, northern nutgrass Latin names: Cyperus esculentus L.  Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge family) General Description Perennial sedges are among the most troublesome weed species globally across agronomic crops, horticultural crops and turfgrass. Because nutsedges look like grasses (Figure 1), they are often referred to as “nutgrasses”….Read more about Weed Spotlight: Yellow Nutsedge[Read More]


Across the state, pumpkin plantings are hitting their stride with varying degrees of success. The grower phone calls I’ve received lately revolve around options for managing emerged weeds. Broadcast options are limited to grass-selective herbicides such as sethoxydim, clethodim, and halosulfuron (Sandea®) for small broadleaf weeds and sedge suppression. All of these products can result…Read more about Post-Directed Herbicide Applications in Pumpkin[Read More]


I know what you’re thinking: this is an insect spotlight, but you are writing about spiders! They are not insects! Well, you are correct. They are not insects but rather Arachnids. However, they are closely related, studied by Entomologists, and play an important role in arthropod food webs, so bear with us. Hopefully, this article…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Spiders – An Overview Of Their Role In Agricultural Systems[Read More]


Thrips, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, and whiteflies are common pests of specialty crops that are often misidentified. Whether it’s tomatoes or squash, it’s important to know the differences between these insects and what it means to see them on or around your crops. Below, we provide some information and diagnostic tips to identify each of these…Read more about Some Commonly Mistaken Insect Pests[Read More]


Date: September 4, 2024 Time: 3:00 – 8:00 PM EST Location: Southwest Purdue Ag Center, 4369 N Purdue Rd, Vincennes, IN 47591 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…Read more about Irrigation Workshop for Small-Scale Vegetable Producers on Sept. 4[Read More]


The Clearspring Produce Auction is located just 2 miles south of US 20 in Clearspring Township in the Heart of the LaGrange-Elkhart Amish Settlement. It is within easy driving distance of the towns of Shipshewana, Topeka, Emma, and LaGrange. Produce is sold 3 days a week throughout most of the growing season (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday),…Read more about Clearspring Produce Auction Update[Read More]


Time is running out to register for the annual Fruit and Vegetable Field Day July 18, 2024, at the Throckmorton/Meigs Horticulture Farm, Lafayette, IN. Registration ends on July 15th at 12:00 p.m. ET. Register here: Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Field Day The program is now available. Download HERE. Fruit and Veg Field Day 2024_Agenda FINAL_page1…Read more about Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Field Day, July 18, 2024[Read More]


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Page last modified: July 11, 2024

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