For some, the emergence of the two periodical cicada broods across Illinois went by without a single sighting or rise in decibels. But for others, it was a mass emergence of movement, scent, and sound like no other.Dr. Kacie Athey’s lab is now requesting fruit growers report any sustained damage to...
Over the last few years of growing tomatoes in the high tunnels in southern Illinois at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, leaf mold has been observed late in the growing season, typically towards the end of August. At that time of year almost all of the tomato fruit has been harvested and...
The summer growing season is here and it feels like it. We are in the midst of a stretch of heat with continued highs in the 90s. We overall have had modest humidity and a breeze most days which makes it tolerable for us, but plants are really showing stress. There is some soil...
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...
Out in the field, most crops have been off to a good start. There was a week or two of some downtime on planting due to the wet weather, but some of that is starting to resume. Harvest of peas, greens, and other spring vegetables is underway. Asparagus harvest is nearing the end with an early start...
Spring cover crops are mainly now reaching their end. Many have been incorporated or terminated and either planted into or getting ready too. This is year 2 of my no-till/cover crop tomatoes and peppers in a small garden type area. This is an extension of a research project from...
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...
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...
