Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers
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Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

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tiny yellowing shriveled up pumpkin fruit with brown flower still attached on pumpkin vine

Why are my pumpkin fruit dying after bloom?

Often, I get the question: “My pumpkins bloom, but then the female fruit just shrivel up and die. Why is this happening?”There is no one answer to this but here are some of the contributing factors to why the plant will abort fruit.  Good news and bad news - it is nothing you did...
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people standing in a field of pumpkins

2026 Pumpkin Field Day

From seasoned commercial growers to those simply curious about Illinois' signature specialty crop, everyone can enjoy a day centered on pumpkins. Illinois Extension will kick off the fall season with Pumpkin Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 3, at...
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person kneeling in a pumpkin field

Available and ready to help

I first want to thank all the growers that have reached out to share their support on my new role as Extension Specialist for specialty crops.  I am honored and excited to take on this role!  In recent years I have been focused more on row crops, so I am working on wrapping up projects...
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healthy apple tree with plenty of leaves but no fruit

No apple crop in 2026? Focus on finishing the season strong

As I've talked with apple growers across northern Illinois this June and July, I've heard many variations of the same question:"The crop is gone. What should I be doing now?"For some growers, spring freeze events resulted in complete crop losses. Others have orchards with highly variable...
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