As strawberry plasticulture growers are closing in on the end of the fall growing season for the annual production system, the impact of the relatively new strawberry fungal disease, Neopestalotiopsis, is starting to be seen. Even with diligent spray programs, plant death and decline has still been...

Hurricane Francine might have put a damper on the first “official” pumpkin weekend this season, but the following weekends have been near perfect for drawing crowds to fall agritourism activities.  The pumpkin crop is overall good to excellent, and demand is high.  Apple harvest,...

In our current research project, “Strategies for Improving Biological Control of Insect Pests for Vegetable Growers Utilizing High Tunnels”, tomato harvest has ramped back up now that the raccoon situation is under control. Overall fruit size is smaller while flavor and white core has...

It’s here and now we have to deal with it.  Neopestalotiopsis fruit rot and leaf spot of strawberry, caused by a previously unknown, more aggressive Neopestalotiopsis ...

Operations with agritourism opportunities have really geared up for the fall season and everyone is hoping for great weather these next four weekends leading up to Halloween. The last weekend of September brought welcomed rain to the St Louis Metro East, breaking a moderate drought before it became...

Due to the adverse health effects associated with exposure to dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), commonly known as Dacthal, the U.S. Environmental...

During the weekend of July 12 to 14 and the week of July 15, we had some farms that received quite a lot of rain and severe winds. Some farms reported receiving 7-8 inches of rain while others, like in the Freeport area, had about 3-4 inches. This was combined with very warm temperatures (above 90...

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...

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...

Throughout the St Louis Metro East, the season is running roughly three weeks ahead of schedule, with asparagus in its third week of harvest and plasticulture strawberries in their first week of harvest. Apples are up to 5mm fruit size and thinning of fruitlets is in progress. Prior to “traditional...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Just like growers who attend winter meetings to increase their knowledge and skills, Extension educators are continuously learning new or updated information to provide current, relevant research-based information to individuals, families, and groups that we serve. I recently attended the 2023...

Hydroponic production allows for different configurations or growing systems that can include gutters, rails, troughs, buckets, slabs, and bags, as well as different substrates or growing media including perlite, coconut coir, rockwool, and more. Couple production system versatility with controlled...

With our research partner, Freeport High School Student Vegetable Farm, the annual strawberry plants study has continued to grow well into September. In July and August, we removed runners and cleaned the beds weekly to reduce pest pressure (yellow jackets, lygus bugs, small mammals). While these...

The St Louis Metro East in the last few weeks has been experiencing what I would call “resort” weather, with temperatures during the day in the upper 70s to middle 80s and nighttime lows in the upper 50s to low 60s.  Apple harvest is in the ‘Golden Delicious,’ ‘Red Delicious,’ and ‘Jonagold’...

It is still very dry overall across our area. We have had a few scattered rain chances that have brought most at least some rain; however, we are at such an overall deficit, that it just doesn’t feel that it goes very far. Last weekend was the most “widespread” rainfall we have had, but still, some...

We were thankful for the small shot of rain we received over the weekend (0.5” total across two days). Some locally isolated areas received 1.5 to 2.0” while others barely saw 0.1”, but overall, our region is still very dry, like the rest of the state. Daytime temperatures have been staying in the...