Dear Valued VCH Readers, Welcome to this week’s edition of the Vegetable Crops Hotline! In this issue, we bring you a diverse range of content to support your farming operations. We hope these insights help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of this critical time in the growing season. Growers and Purdue Extension Educators Your input…Read more about From the Editor’s Desk[Read More]
As produce bounties are harvested this summer, many growers may explore options to transform excess perishable products into value-added goods such as baked goods, jams and jellies, and more. Current Indiana regulations allow individuals to make certain products in their home kitchen and sell those direct-to-consumer as a home-based vendor (HBV). However, there are several…Read more about Indiana Home-Based Vendor Handbook Now Available[Read More]
The last few weeks have been on the drier side, particularly for northwestern and west-central Indiana (Figure 1). While temperatures have been seasonal, they are still gradually increasing as we approach summer. Therefore, evapotranspiration rates are starting to increase. This has resulted in the U.S. Drought Monitor classifying much of northern Indiana as Abnormally Dry…Read more about A Bit of Rain Coming Our Way[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]
For tomato growers, managing potassium (K) nutrition is critical for both yield and fruit quality. While most producers understand K’s importance, many don’t realize how significantly temperature influences a plant’s ability to uptake and utilize this essential nutrient. With increasing heat extremes, understanding this relationship becomes even more crucial for successful production. The Temperature-Potassium Connection…Read more about Temperature Effects on Potassium Uptake: Managing Heat Stress for Better Tomato Quality[Read More]
Thrips are soft-bodied insects belonging to the order Thysanoptera. They are tiny, slender, and characterized by their fringed wings (Figure 1). While many thrips species are considered agricultural pests, some are beneficial predators. One important pest species is the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis; Figure 2), which can cause significant damage to crops. In contrast,…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Thrips[Read More]
Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit a local grower who installed an insectary strip adjacent to their high tunnel last year. They will be hosting a field day in June (Register HERE), so I wanted to take a sneak peek and see how the plants (and insects) were doing. The plants are…Read more about Introducing the Fourlined plant bug (Poecilocapus lineatus)[Read More]
The EPA is enacting new requirements for agricultural pesticide applicators. An increasing number of pesticide labels require applicators to utilize an online system called Bulletins Live! Two to determine if additional pesticide use limitations are required to protect threatened or endangered species or habitat based on 1) application location, 2) pesticide product, and 3) application month. This…Read more about New EPA Requirement for Pesticide Application[Read More]
The Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC) is one of the eight Purdue Agricultural Centers located across Indiana. What makes SWPAC unique is its location in the heart of Indiana’s watermelon-growing region—home to one of the state’s most significant specialty crop industries. In addition to watermelon and cantaloupe, southern Indiana is known for its diverse fruit…Read more about Southwest Purdue Agriculture Center Field Day Set for June 26[Read More]
The Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day, scheduled for July 24, 2025, will feature demonstrations and presentations designed to support small-scale farming. The Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture will co-host the event with the Purdue Student Farm. Attendees can learn from Purdue University and Purdue Extension experts about topics such as small-scale farming hacks,…Read more about Small Farm Education Field Day Will Feature New Research, Live Demonstrations and Purdue Experts[Read More]
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