In our current research project, “Strategies for Improving Biological Control of Insect Pests for Vegetable Growers Utilizing High Tunnels”, the second treatment or strategy besides establishing and overwintering cover crops is growing a row of cut flowers within the same high tunnel as...
I stopped by a large produce grower in my area, Maddox Sweet Corn Farm, and Ted showed me their grafted versus non-grafted heirloom tomato trial. In the photo (photo credit: D. Gucker Illinois Extension 2024), the row of tomatoes on the left and the row on the right are the same tomato variety. The...
It is starting to be potato leafhopper season in Illinois. Potato leafhoppers are pests on a variety of crops (fruit, vegetable, ornamental) and they do not overwinter here, so they migrate in from the south as the weather warms up. Potato leafhoppers feed by inserting their needle-like mouthparts...
Crops are responding to warm spring temperatures and increased daylength. The crimson clover cover crop began flowering on March 29 and by April 3 was in full flower and ready to be terminated. In our current research project, “Strategies for Improving Biological Control of Insect Pests for...
Illinois experienced its 2nd warmest winter on record, cooler only than 1932. The mild winter caused perennials to break dormancy and advance phenology weeks ahead of average. While March and April have had their characteristic temperature swings, milder weather has persisted into the spring so far...
Weed Management is almost always a challenge on vegetable farms. Even if you do have a manageable weed pest, management practices come at some kind of cost, from herbicide cost to labor for hand or mechanical weeding.
Dr. Stephen Meyers and Jeanine Arana just released a really nice...
As you have probably heard, very soon our state will be host to two broods of periodical cicadas. Here in Illinois, we actually have five broods of periodical cicadas and so every couple of years some part of the state will be host to periodical cicadas. 2024 is special because it is uncommon for...
Out in the field, spring plantings have been off to a good start. Cool season crops have been very happy. I have early planted radishes and spring greens approaching harvest. Potatoes are planted and I set out some spring cauliflower and broccoli the first of the month and it is...
Throughout the St Louis Metro East, the season is running roughly three weeks ahead of schedule, with asparagus in its third week of harvest and plasticulture strawberries in their first week of harvest. Apples are up to 5mm fruit size and thinning of fruitlets is in progress. Prior to “traditional...
Based on observations and considering results from peach brown rot research in the past three years, the following information is in regards to a spray schedule for peach trees without fruit:
The important diseases:
Leaf curl: A serious leaf disease, regardless of fruit crop....
