College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension

Blog Archive

row of green tomato plants in a high tunnel

Early observations from high tunnel determinate tomato variety trial

May 29, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Historically, applied fruit and vegetable research conducted at the University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in southern Illinois has always included variety trials, whether in open field production or in high tunnels. For the past 15 years, research projects have been conducted...

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large green leaves on a pumpkin plant in a field

2026 Recommended Pumpkin Spray Schedule

May 29, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Important ConsiderationsCheck The Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecast Homepage for development and spread of downy mildew. Spray the field when the disease is in locations near the field with chlorothalonil (i.e., Bravo Weather Stik). Spray...

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person drying hands with a paper towel

Drying hands: An important step during hand washing

May 29, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

By now many of us know that washing hands involves wetting hands with clean water, applying soap and rubbing palms, between fingers, under fingernails, and the back of the hands, followed by rinsing under clean running water and then drying. This article talks more about the drying step.It is...

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person talking and holding a microphone

May brings an extended spring

May 29, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Update from Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist. April 2026 was the warmest April on record statewide in Illinois and stirred intrusive thoughts of an early and hot start to summer. However, cool air arrived from Canada just as the calendar turned to May, and the first two-thirds of the final...

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several green tomato fruits on plant

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Demonstration and research crops off to good start

May 29, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

New plastic was finally able to be installed on the middle high tunnel on May 12. Wind conditions were calm and the process of reskinning took 8 of us about 2.5 hours to complete. During the month of May, DSAC has received a total of 3.81 inches of rain with an average maximum temperature of 76 F...

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black and red raspberry fruits on a plant

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Small fruit harvest ramping up but so is fireblight

May 29, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

May has been a very busy month out in the field. The weather has been variable but has given growers multiple opportunities for field work and spring planting. Rainfall has gone in waves with a total of 2.91” for the month so far at Waterloo. Areas to the north got hammered with a 3.5”...

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two green peach leaves with raised, crinkled tissue in the center of the leaves that appears red and yellow in color

From Northeastern Illinois (St. Charles): Recognizing and managing peach leaf curl

May 29, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Over the past month, the DuPage and Kane Counties Extension office has received several calls and emails regarding peach leaf curl. Given the wet spring conditions, it is not surprising that this fungal disease is showing up in orchards this year. However, early symptoms can easily be mistaken for...

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A close-up of a blueberry on the cover of a midwest fruit pest management guide publication

2026-2027 Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide now available

May 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

The 2026-2027 Midwest Fruit Pest Guide has been updated and the PDF files are available for download. New this year, the spray guide has been divided up into separate sections by fruit family and you can download specific sections, making it...

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A small diameter apple trunk with a vertical split in the bark from winter damage

Assessing winter trunk damage in May: apples and stone fruits

May 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

May is a critical month for assessing winter trunk damage because trees are fully leafing out and water demand is increasing. Differences in vigor among cultivars and rootstocks that were subtle during bloom are often more obvious now. Along with thinning decisions, this is a good time to evaluate...

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person talking and holding a microphone

April of weather extremes

May 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist, provided this article.April has continued our very warm and active spring, with average temperatures that have been 5 to 10 degrees warmer than average statewide (Figure 1). The warmth has pushed soil temperatures into the 60s and 70s statewide, well ahead...

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Tomatoes growing inside high tunnel with two different types of trellising methods shown

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: High tunnel trials are underway

May 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Tomato and pepper variety trials are being conducted in one of the high tunnels at DSAC, with a planting date of April 6. Tomato variety trials will consist of 5 determinate varieties, 6 indeterminate varieties, and 6 bell pepper varieties. In anticipation of the indeterminate varieties growing...

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Close-up of a purple asparagus stalk

From St. Louis Metro East: Spring is here again

May 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

One final regional update from Elizabeth Wahle. And the cycle begins again for 2026. Asparagus harvest is ongoing and a good crop overall is being reported. Plasticulture strawberries are in week two of harvest and as usual for early berries, could benefit from some heat and...

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A field planted with rows of green plants with standing water in the field

From Northeastern Illinois (St. Charles): Spotty frosts and continued rain create flooding and planting delays

May 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

If you established a cover crop last fall or earlier this spring, the persistent April rainfall likely worked in your favor. Across northern Illinois, April weather was highly variable but ultimately warmer and much wetter than normal, shaping planting conditions throughout the western Chicago...

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A finger holding a branch with green leaves emerging from fruit bud

From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Springtime bloom

May 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Bloom PeriodBy the time you read this, most fruit trees in northern Illinois will have bloomed. When I visited an orchard in mid‑April, most cultivars were at tight cluster to half‑inch green. Just a week later, some cultivars had already entered late pink and even bloom. This...

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person with brown hair wearing a yellow shirt

Elizabeth Wahle reflects on her time with Illinois Extension as she prepares for retirement

April 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

When I started with Extension, I was fresh out of my Ph.D. program with Dr. John Masiunas…and really wet behind the ears compared to what I know now. I have so many people to thank for sharing their expertise and friendship throughout my career, including colleagues, growers, and support...

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ginger rhizome seed stock with bluish gray mold on edge

Ginger grant update: Illinois ginger growers' rhizome seed issues and learning opportunities

April 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Heading into year two of the Illinois Ginger Growers Collaborative project, fourteen small farmers and six Extension field staff have just received their ginger rhizome seed pieces. Four varieties of ginger rhizome seed from two different vendors are being evaluated for vigor, disease incidence or...

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a lab table with a clipboard

Listeriosis - What it is and how to prevent it

April 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Listeriosis is a disease caused by the bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. Listeriosis is often acquired from consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Foods often...

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white flowers on an apple tree branch

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Storm damage from early March changes research plans

April 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

The mid March cold snap brought temperatures in the 18 to 22 degree range across southern Illinois. Double row covers on plasticulture strawberries did not provide enough protection to save flowers from popcorn up to full bloom in maturity. Flowers in tight bud were saved for the most part. As of...

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blueberry flower bud opening

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Perennial fruit crops moving ahead despite cold weather

April 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

We have been on the spring roller coaster for temperatures in southern Illinois. March 15-17 saw temperatures plummet, with March 16 not even getting above freezing. We saw lows down to the upper teens across the area. However, by the weekend we were pushing 90 degrees for high...

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mature summer cover crops growing

From Central Illinois (Bloomington): Cover crop residue and spring growth at Unity Community Center Research and Demonstration Area

April 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Over the last 5 years, efforts have been made at the Unity Community Center’s Research and Demonstration Area Garden in Normal, IL to rejuvenate garden soils used for food-insecure community food production through extensive cover crop utilization. This approach was taken due to the condition...

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College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension

101 Mumford Hall (MC-710)

1301 W. Gregory Dr.

Urbana, IL 61801

Email: extension@illinois.edu

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