Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Latest Posts

pink peach blossoms on tree

Assessing Freeze Damage on Peaches

Our warm overall winter and above normal February temperatures signaled plants to break dormancy early, putting many of our crops, especially peaches, at risk of freeze damage. The potential for frost/freeze events from mid-March through mid to late April is typically high, putting peaches in...
Finish this story
rapeseed and crimson clover cover crops growing in a field

Cover Crop Update

Fall Cover Crop Mixtures With spring weather pushing growth, our cover crops are also taking off as well.  I had some early fall planted spring oats, crimson clover, and rapeseed (25/6/2 lb/A, respectively) in a few areas including some planted after potato harvest last year...
Finish this story
green asparagus spear growing from ground

Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo) Update: Spring is Abound

We have been on the typical March roller coaster for weather lately.  We have generally been fairly mild but have gone from a few days around 80°F to some morning lows in the upper 20s.  We have still been relatively dry for the month of March with only 1.54” of rain to date (as of 3/25/...
Finish this story

February and Winter 2024 IWCS Update from Trent Ford

Weather/Climate Information:  Report provided by Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist The following description of temperatures, precipitation, severe weather, and drought comes from data compiled by networks that report to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric...
Finish this story
white flowers blooming

St. Louis Metro East Update: Warmer winters

Much like the rest of the state, the St. Louis Metro East has been on average experiencing warmer winters, yet the coming spring to date hasn’t been following suite.  I’ve noticed the bloom date of snowdrops (winter bloomer) seems to mirror this winter warming trend.  For example, 2018-19...
Finish this story
small worm feeding on inside of peach fruit

Plum Curculio Updates: Insights from the orchard

Plum curculio has been a growing problem in most peach and apple orchards in Illinois. A small weevil, laying eggs inside the fruit, is quite destructive to the peaches and apples. Traditionally, we have diagnosed this problem through the crescent-shaped scar that appears on fruit as a result of...
Finish this story
a cicada nymph breaking out of its shell

Considering eating a periodical cicada?

Illinois will experience the co-emergence of two broods of periodical cicadas in 2024, the 13-year Great Southern Brood (XIX) and the 17-year Northern Illinois Brood (XIII). For the most part, the two brood ranges are not expected to overlap but together much of the state’s inhabitants will be...
Finish this story
Blog Authors
Elizabeth Wahle

Elizabeth Wahle

Extension Specialist, Agriculture and Agribusiness (Commercial Agriculture)
Blog Archives