Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers 2024
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...
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This month's weather information from Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist, 217-244-1330,
twford@illinois.edu.A mild May wrapped up the 4th warmest spring on record in Illinois and the warmest since 2012. The warm spring added to a very mild winter...
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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...
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In our current research project, “Strategies for Improving Biological Control of Insect Pests for Vegetable Growers Utilizing High Tunnels”, cut flower, pepper, and tomato harvest has started. The cut flowers have been harvested for the past three weeks, since the first of June, while...
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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...
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Who ever heard of plasticulture strawberry season and peach season overlapping but it did this year. Combined with at least a two week early start to the season and cultivars like ‘Ruby June’ strawberry that just keeps producing, this year’s strawberry harvest lasted a good solid seven...
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It was great to see many of you at the start of June at the Summer Hort Field Day up north at Jonamac Orchards. One of the takeaways I always enjoy from this event is the growers report, highlighting some of the challenges that growers have faced this winter and spring and the differences that we...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Cover crops are always on the move in April. I said “explosion” because for many overwintering cover crops it is almost that. Some can grow over 1” or more per day this time of year!
Fall Cover Crop Mixtures
Here is a quick update on some early fall planted spring...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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