Blog Keywords

group of orange pumpkins in field beside green plants

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Fall pumpkin and apple season is upon us

October 2, 2026

We are finally starting to feel a little more fall like in the region. Up until the latter part of September we had maintained many days of temperatures in the mid-90s, but fortunately temperatures have started to drop, and the hot days are hopefully mostly behind us for this season. As...

Finish this story

many small cream colored larva feeding on the inside of a plant stem

Swede midge

October 2, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Swede midge is an invasive pest of brassicas introduced to North America in 2000 where it was detected in Canada. Since then, it has been detected in the United States, first in New York in 2004. In the North Central region the United States, Swede midge has been detected in Michigan, Ohio,...

Finish this story

cracks in bare soil inside and between raised beds inside high tunnel

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Insects were thriving in the heat of September

October 2, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

The relentless heat and humidity of September are finally over. Lack of soil moisture and continued high temperatures created many noticeable cracks in the soil within the high tunnels at DSAC this past month. Cooler temperatures and forecasted rain are much needed, especially for fall crops. We...

Finish this story

Fall is Here, so is El Niño!

October 2, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Update from Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist (217-244-1330; twford@illinois.edu)September is the first month of meteorological fall, but I guess no one told the weather. Last month was extremely warm across the state, with average temperatures...

Finish this story

tiny yellowing shriveled up pumpkin fruit with brown flower still attached on pumpkin vine

Why are my pumpkin fruit dying after bloom?

August 31, 2026

Often, I get the question: “My pumpkins bloom, but then the female fruit just shrivel up and die. Why is this happening?”There is no one answer to this but here are some of the contributing factors to why the plant will abort fruit. Good news and bad news - it is nothing you did...

Finish this story

field of healthy dark green pumpkin plants

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Keep your guard up, crop scouting is important for fall crops too!

August 31, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

I had forgotten that it could actually rain in August! After the last few years of late summer droughts, the timely rainfall this year in our area has been much appreciated. It is nice to not have summer crops struggling for water and the soil being as hard as a brick. I have...

Finish this story

two rows of apple trees with red fruit hanging and the words illinois beginning orchard academy surrounded by a light yellow oval

Illinois Beginning Orchard Academy (IBOA)

August 31, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

I'm pleased to share that registration is now open for the Illinois Beginning Orchard Academy (IBOA), a six-week online course designed to help beginning fruit growers build a successful orchard from the ground up. Following a successful winter cohort, I'm...

Finish this story

a field with strawberry plants set out in rows of black plastic mulch

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Summer harvest might be slowing but your irrigation needs to stay steady

August 31, 2026

The determinate tomato crop from the high tunnels at DSAC was picked out by the second week of August, which is a bit earlier than normal. A few late season fruits have set on the very tops of the plants, but I doubt they will amount to much of a harvest. The indeterminate tomato plants were...

Finish this story

2026 Pumpkin Field Day

August 28, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

From seasoned commercial growers to those simply curious about Illinois' signature specialty crop, everyone can enjoy a day centered on pumpkins. Illinois Extension will kick off the fall season with Pumpkin Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 3, at...

Finish this story

healthy apple tree with plenty of leaves but no fruit

No apple crop in 2026? Focus on finishing the season strong

July 28, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

As I've talked with apple growers across northern Illinois this June and July, I've heard many variations of the same question:"The crop is gone. What should I be doing now?"For some growers, spring freeze events resulted in complete crop losses. Others have orchards with highly variable...

Finish this story

Blog Keywords

Specialty Crops Blogs