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large green leaves on a pumpkin plant in a field

2026 Recommended Pumpkin Spray Schedule

May 29, 2026

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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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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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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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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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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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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A close up of a pepper plant with red and green fruits.

Consider snacking or lunchbox peppers this season

March 10, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

When I studied red knight bell peppers (X3R from Johnny’s Seeds) in South Dakota for graduate school, they loved the 90-degree Fahrenheit temperatures, possibly because of how dry and arid it was. Last summer, I really struggled with bell peppers as it was hot and humid with fluctuating...

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clear plastic tightly covering rows of plants inside a high tunnel

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Solarization started for overwintering cover crops

March 10, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

After the success of solarizing cover crops last year in our high tunnel, we will be covering all the beds with clear plastic mulch to achieve termination ahead of our April 1 target plant date for tomatoes and peppers. Plastic is stapled into the wooden side boards of the raised beds, spanning two...

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gray plastic container stacked on top of each other filled with red ripe tomatoes

Review of yields and gross sales for high tunnel tomato and pepper crops in 2025

December 9, 2025

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Yield data is collected every year from crops grown within the high tunnels at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in southern Illinois. Plots are assigned within each of the tunnels based on the type of research that is being conducted, and replicated data collection allows for statistical...

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From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Pumpkins and apples October update

November 4, 2025

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

This October has brought excellent apple harvests across many Northern Illinois orchards, with a mix of traditional, PRI, and MAIA varieties showing strong performance. I visited several orchards this past month and saw healthy crops and steady visitor turnout. Post-harvest fruit quality has varied...

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