Conditions in far southeastern Illinois have been similar to those around the St. Louis area as far as heat and high humidity levels. The sustained, elevated humidity along with temperatures in the mid to upper 90s have created conditions with heat index values ranging from 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit almost daily for most of August. Many are commenting on how hot and oppressive this summer has felt. August 19 brought scattered pop-up storms, with Shawneetown and Golconda (towns located on the Ohio River) each receiving well over an inch of rain. Just a few miles to the west at the Dixon Springs Ag Center location not a drop of rain fell. Decreased temperatures and humidity are forecasted for the next week or so and will be greatly appreciated by everything and everyone.
Crop delays and yield reductions caused by the heat stress seem to be apparent statewide. Tomatoes in the high tunnels at DSAC have been slow to ripen, flowers are drying up, and disruptions in the pollination process are producing poor quality (unmarketable) fruit. Interestingly, the peppers seem to unaffected by the heat and humidity and don’t seem to show signs of stress. Our first planting of hydroponic green beans set out in May yielded as expected. Once that planting had grown to the trusses, it was removed, and a new planting was set out the first part of July. This second planting has not set a single flower, hence no green beans, but the plants themselves have grown really well and are up and over the trusses again. In talking with a grower last week, they mentioned that their field green beans were not setting fruit either and it has been a tough year for green bean production.
Tomato plants have rebounded after the majority of the overall crop was harvested by the third week of July. New growth, flowering, and fruit set and sizing can now be seen across all the varieties. Most plants are well over six feet tall and needed a final string at the very top of the stakes to keep from breaking over. Stink bug, caterpillar, and aphid pressure has increased with stink bug being the most prevalent and causing the most fruit damage.
