May has been a very busy month out in the field. The weather has been variable but has given growers multiple opportunities for field work and spring planting. Rainfall has gone in waves with a total of 2.91” for the month so far at Waterloo. Areas to the north got hammered with a 3.5” rainfall on the afternoon of May 18, with other areas along the I-70 & I-64 corridor having localized heavier totals. We have gone through some very wet and damp weeks and some very dry spells. As the month wraps up, we are coming out of a wet and humid week with a forecast of early June showing a shift in weather with a dry pattern in place. In general, temperatures have been fairly mild, and we have actually seen warmer days in March this year than in May. Forecasted temperatures are supposed to stay in the 80s for highs with no extremes either hot or cold predicted.
Out in the field, spring crops like lettuce, peas, spinach, and radishes are all abundant and have appreciated the moderate temperatures. Plasticulture strawberries and asparagus are coming to a close for the season. Summer vegetable crops are off to a good start with spring maintenance like pruning and tying tomatoes getting started. As the strawberry season comes to a close, our next fruit crops are coming to harvest. I picked my first black raspberries this week and early blueberries like ‘Duke’ are just starting to get ripe and will be harvested soon. Locally, the peach and apple crops are still looking good. Fireblight has been problematic in apples this season. We have had some rainy periods, just enough, at the right time to have some significant shoot blight however not a lot of fruit infections from fireblight have been observed.
Pumpkin season is just around the corner, and a few have already started planting long season varieties. Whether you utilize no-till or conventional till pumpkin production, make sure to always start free and clean of weeds. This could be accomplished through an extra tillage pass or making sure you utilize an effective burndown herbicide for the weeds you have. For conventional growers, make sure to evaluate the best preemergence herbicide options for the weeds you have. Preemergence products like Dual Magnum, Reflex, and Strategy are key to helping keep the weeds out while those pumpkins get established. Dual Magnum plus Reflex is a very common PRE herbicide combination, especially when waterhemp is your main weed issue. Remember we have limited options for postemergence herbicides in pumpkins, so PRE is KEY!
Hopefully, as we start the summer season, we can avoid any moisture or temperature extremes and have some good growing weather!
