Early season cole crops have been planted in the caterpillar tunnel set up over the winter at DSAC. Instead of covering this smaller tunnel with clear plastic, a 30% shade cloth has been attached. Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, and swiss chard transplants were planted on March 21. Compost...

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/...

Based on research by Wallis and Cox with Cornell University and with support from BASF, an Apogee Sec. 2(ee) Recommendation for Illinois apple growers is now...

The latest addition to the demonstration tunnels at the Dixon Springs Ag Center is a caterpillar tunnel. The site was selected late last summer and the grass was sprayed with a burndown herbicide. Compost has been added and incorporated into the native soil. Crops planned to be grown in this tunnel...

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...

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...

We have gotten a break from the most intense cold with a fairly mild February overall.  Precipitation has been fairly light so far with only 0.54” of rain in this month bringing our yearly total to 5.82”.  Half of our February precipitation came 2/16 in the form of a light layer of ice...

Sarah Farley and I were privileged to host again the Stateline Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference on Monday, February 19, in Rockford, Illinois. Over 100 attendees and Extension educators and specialists from 4 universities joined us this year for sessions in the fruit, vegetable, and new...

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...

In the southern region, it is time to get prepared for uncovering strawberries in both annual plasticulture and matted row systems.  When you start checking strawberry growth under covers, what you find underneath is quite different between the two systems.  Straw, the primary cover in...

Here in Olney, we have been on the same weather roller coaster as the rest of the state. At my house, we received around 2 1/2” of snow along with sleet and drifting on February 16. In a week we have gone from 70-degree days to 19-degree lows and now back to 53 degrees. Like everyone else, I am...

The high tunnel at the Unity Community Center was very lightly surface tilled in early January and a cover crop of oats, forage pea and hairy vetch was planted throughout, and top-dressed with compost, all in preparation for another year of ginger cultivation. We ordered 30lbs (!) of ginger seed...

The information in this blog post was submitted by Marty Williams, USDA-ARS  (217-244-5476; martin.williams@usda.gov). Severe sensitivity to a relatively new postemergence herbicide, tolpyralate (trade name Shieldex), has been documented in certain inbred lines of field corn and sweet corn....

Rain, rain, glorious rain!!!  We are happily finally getting some much-needed rain in quantities that actually can help us recover the depletion of soil moisture from over the first month of this year.  The nice part is that it really is not hampering any major field activities right now...

The Illinois State Horticulture Society sponsored its 34th Illinois Sweet Cider Contests and the 21st National Hard Cider Contest, held in conjunction with the From Food to Flowers Everything Local Conference on January 18th in Springfield, Illinois. Patrick Riofredo and Victor Rios of Curran’s...

With climate change, many growers are concerned about plants receiving enough cold to be fruitful the next year. Endodormancy, a period of rest, is a term used when plant buds remain dormant due to some internal physiological block, even when external growing conditions are conducive to growth. A...

The big question on everyone’s mind is whether the peach crop has been affected by the recent cold snap. Experience tells us -9°F is the benchmark temperature of concern for peaches, where there is an ever-increasing risk of bloom thinning and cambial damage as temperatures approach and drop past...

For many growers, January and February is the time to attend meetings and conferences to learn about the latest research information, production and marketing management practices, and to network with other growers. Many have already made seed orders for the coming season but may decide on a last-...