Specialty Crops Blogs

As kids go back to school, operations have started the shift from summer crops over to fall crops, which includes the transition from peaches to apples. Peaches are in the ‘Cresthaven’ window, with cultivars like ‘Encore’, ‘Autumnstar’ and ‘Laurol’ yet to finish out the season.  Apples are in...

Weather update from Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist. Most of Illinois hits its climatologically hottest time of the year between the third week of July and the first week of August. This year, though, mother nature didn’t get that message, and the last part of July and much of August so...

Conditions in far southeastern Illinois have been similar to those around the St. Louis area as far as heat and high humidity levels. The sustained, elevated humidity along with temperatures in the mid to upper 90s have created conditions with heat index values ranging from 105 to 110 degrees...

While fertigation is a great way to give our crops an extra boost, we still have many crops grown that are not irrigated and could benefit from a midseason nutrient boost.  I am going to share the equipment I have put together to side dress nitrogen on pumpkins. It could also be adapted to...

Northern Illinois Orchards OpenApple season begins toward the end of August. Most orchards have announced their openings for the weekend of August 23rd, with almost all open by August 30th. This timing is driven largely by 'Zestar!', a...

This summer I observed something that I had not seen before. I am growing delicata squash in my backyard and I saw holes in one. I then observed a couple of other squashes with holes and frass (insect poop) coming out of the holes. I cut open the squashes and found both green and white caterpillars...

Now is time to think about those fall cool season crops despite the fact the thermometer feels quite the opposite. I no-till transplanted my fall broccoli & cauliflower August 10. It caught a small shower that day but that didn’t go far and we have watered some to get them established. I also...

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

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines flooding as the flowing or overflowing of a field with water outside a grower’s control. This can result from an overflowing water body such as a river, lake, or a stream. Rainwater that pools in some parts of the field is not considered flooding. ...

This season has been hot and dry with scattered rainfall throughout the season for Northeastern Illinois. June average rainfall totals were approximately 3.80 inches, 0.50 inches below the 30-year average. July average rainfall totals have accumulated about 4.12 inches, 0.38 inches above the 30-...