Cover Crops

Mechanical termination of the annual ryegrass cover crop has continued to be a problem in the treatment tunnel. Some of the annual ryegrass plots have continued to regrow even after two cuttings. These last two cuttings were a challenge because the tomato transplants were already set and tied with...

Our area has been a little on the wet side lately.  We have had over 9” of rain for the Month of April (as of 4/29) and more rain chances in the forecast before the month is over.  Temperatures have been about average and we have only had a handful of days this year over 80°. We endured...

It is starting to feel like spring.  Our area has actually been very dry for March until this past weekend when we got 1.23” of rain Saturday morning.  Prior to that the soil was exceptionally dry, having missed multiple other storm systems. Other than 0.35” of rainfall on March 5,...

Vegetable transplants are growing well in the greenhouse and should be ready for planting within our high tunnels in the next 2 to 3 weeks. Peaches are in bloom and the summer apple variety in my front yard was at tight cluster. In partnership with our local high school FFA clubs, we hosted another...

The Unity Community Center’s Food Production and Demonstration Garden I manage every year has had to move. We are in the process of relocating the Food Production and Demonstration Garden to an area behind Unity Community Center that Extension owns – formally the site of a children’s garden. The...

With all seeds ordered and in hand, pepper seeds were germinated and potted up into flats during the second and third weeks of February respectively. Tomato seeds have started to germinate and will be potted up by the end of this last week of February. It has been our experience with the greenhouse...

The last month or so has provided some time to catch our breath and think about the upcoming growing season. Most of the seeds and supplies have been ordered but investigating new products and items is still underway. The winter meetings are a great time to meet with vendors and industry...

After a warm dry spell of weather in October, we are more wet and have more typical temperatures.  We made up for lost time in precipitation having 8.03 inches of rain for the month of November (as of 11/26).  Most of this came on 11/4 and 11/5 when we got 6.37 inches of rain. This...

The cover crops seeded in the “treatment” high tunnel are growing, although not as evenly as hoped. The crimson clover stand is almost non-existent, and the annual ryegrass stand is much better in plots at the back of the tunnel (photo to right, B. Aly, Illinois Extension 2024). The working theory...

The two-year specialty crop block grant, “Strategies for Improving Biological Control of Insect Pests for Vegetable Growers Utilizing High Tunnels” officially finished data collection in September. During the month of October, tomato, pepper and cut flower plants, stakes, posts, and string have...