Vegetable Crops Edition

Seasonal updates and alerts on insects, diseases, and weeds impacting vegetable crops. New Jersey Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations updates between annual publication issues are included.
 
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July 31, 2026 , and

Agri-Technology, Nursery, Agronomy, Fruit and Vegetable Research Twilight Meeting at RAREC: Wednesday August 26, 2026

 Agri-Technology, Nursery, Agronomy, Fruit and Vegetable Research Twilight Meeting at RAREC

Wednesday August 26th, 2026 (4 pm until dark)

Location: Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC), 121 Northville Road, Bridgeton, New Jersey 08302

Hosted by: Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, Patrick McMullen, and Andy Wyenandt

Questions? Contact: Andy Wyenandt (wyenandt@njaes.rutgers.edu)

This year’s twilight meeting at RAREC will showcase advances in crop production, integrated pest management, soil fertility, weed management, and innovative agricultural technologies for growers and stakeholders across the state.

  • Dan Ward, Director, RAREC. Welcome to RAREC
  • Wesley Kline, Cumberland County Agricultural Agent
    • ‘Impact of Cyclospora on fruit and vegetable production’ CORE: 30 minutes
  • Tim Waller, Cumberland County RCE Nursery Agent.
    • ‘Useful Nursery and Ornamental Crops and Considerations’
  • Raul Cabrera, Extension Specialist in Nursery Production and Management.
    • ‘Recent developments on substrates (for container-grown crops)’
  • Dan Ward, Director, RAREC; Rutgers Agrivoltiacs Program.
    • ‘Update on the agrivoltaics research program at Rutgers’
  • Ann Nielsen, Extension Specialist in Entomology
    • Emma Waltman, PhD candidate, ‘Land-use around farms impacts stink bug biological control’
    • Amanda Furuya, Post-Doctoral Associate, ‘Tackling Spotted Lanternfly in South Jersey Vineyards’
    • Octavio Menocal Sandoval, Post-Doctoral Associate, ‘Updating Monitoring and Management for Codling Moth in Apple’
  • Thierry Besancon, Extension Weed Specialist for Specialty Crops.
    • ‘Update on new technologies for weed management in vegetable crops’
  • Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, Salem County Agricultural Agent.
    • ‘Optimizing Nitrogen Rate and Application Timing for Corn Yield and Quality’
    • ‘Evaluation of Sulfur Fertilizer Sources and Application Rates for Optimizing Soybean Growth and Yield in Southern New Jersey’
  • Maria Cramer, Senior Program Coordinator, Vegetable IPM,
    • ‘Thrips management in tomatoes’
  • Patrick McMullen, Atlantic County Agricultural Agent.
    • ‘Wilts of cucurbits: Identification and management’
  • Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology.
    • ‘Updates on vegetable disease control’

NJDEP pesticide recertification credits are pending approval. Expected credits include CORE (1), PP2 (4), 1A (4), 3A (2), and Category 10 (3).

Filed Under: Agrivoltaics, Commercial Ag Updates, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, pesticide credits, training, Tree Fruit, vegetable, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape, work shop
July 29, 2026

Diagnosing Southern blight and White mold in tomato and pepper

There have been a number of reports of Southern blight (Athelia rolfsii; formerly Sclerotinia rolfsii) on tomato and pepper in New Jersey. Southern blight is much more common in vegetable growing regions south of the state where summer temperatures remain hotter (above 90°F) for longer periods of time. Like white mold, it can survive in the soil for many years. Symptoms of Southern blight include infection at the base of the stem at the soil line. The resulting infection will girdle the plant causing wilt and death. The fungus will produce white, cottony mycelium and very small, spherical sclerotia which are often have a tannish, brown color.

In most years, White mold is more common than Southern blight in New Jersey; however the hotter temperatures and wet weather patterns across the state this summer has led to more Southern blight being reported. Like Southern blight, once White mold is present in a field or high tunnel it can very difficult to control. The pathogen produces large black sclerotia on the surface and inside infected stems. If sclerotia of either pathogen make their way back into the soil, both can survive for many years causing significant long-term problems.

All infected plants need to be removed from the field or high tunnel immediately and disposed of properly to help reduce the chances of sclerotia returning to the soil. Timely fungicide applications applied through drip or as directed sprays at the base of the plant can help mitigate disease pressure. For more information on control of both diseases please see the 2026/2027 mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide.

Infected root

Symptoms of Southern blight on infected pepper plant. Note the numerous, small white to tan colored sclerotia on the stem.

Infected stem

White mold of tomato. Note the large black sclerotia developing inside the brittle stems.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , ,
July 29, 2026

Basil downy mildew confirmed in southern New Jersey – ALERT 7/29/26

Basil downy mildew has been confirmed in field grown sweet basil in southern New Jersey. This is the first confirmed report of BDM in the state and region this growing season. All basil growers are encouraged to scout their fields or greenhouses on a daily basis. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
July 28, 2026 and

Research Twilight Meeting for Vegetable Growers – Credits Assigned

Roadside sign for the Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm.Join us for a Research Twilight Meeting at the picturesque Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm on Wednesday, August 12, 2026! Attendees will gain practical information on management of corn earworm and cucurbit downy mildew paired with timely reminders on resistance management. We will tour the research plots and share updates on the current research activities underway, including new technology (drones, biodegradable mulch, autonomous robots) and updates on the IR-4 and tomato breeding programs. See the full agenda below.

Pesticide recertification credits have been approved for CORE (1), PP2 (3), 1A (3), and 10 (3).

The meeting will be held from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Arrive on time for a light dinner thanks to sponsorship from the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey. Please note the address of the farm is 140 Locust Grove Rd, Pittstown, NJ 08867. 

We request that you RSVP by August 10 so we may plan for the meal and the number of wagons needed. To RSVP, please complete this form or contact Ashley Higgins at higgins@somersetcountynj.gov or 908-526-6293.

5:00 PM – Sign-In at Main Building, Load Wagon, Welcome Remarks 

5:15 PM – Insecticide Resistance: Recognition and Management (30 min) 

  • Grayson Tung, Senior Coordinator, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), Rutgers University 

5:45 PM – Corn Earworm Management: Bt Corn Variety Trial & Alternative Insecticides (30 min)  

  • David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County 
  • Amanda Quadrel, Senior IPM Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension 

6:15 PM – Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Evaluation in Tomato (15 min) 

  • David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County 

6:30 PM – Drone-Seeded Cover Crops into a Standing Pumpkin Crop (15 min) 

  • Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County 
  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County 

6:45 PM – Cucurbit Downy Mildew: Monitoring and Management (30 min) 

  • Amanda Quadrel, Senior IPM Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension 
  • Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology, Rutgers NJAES 
  • Stephen Komar, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Sussex County 
  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County 

7:15 PM – Updates from the Scarlet Sunrise Tomato Breeding Program (15 min)  

  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County 

7:30 PM – Organic, Interrow Weed Management in Bell Pepper: An Economic Comparison (15 min) 

  • Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County 
  • Meredith Melendez, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County 
  • Sophie Lee, Extension Specialist in Farm Viability, Rutgers NJAES 
  • Thierry Besanҫon, Extension Specialist in Weed Science for Specialty Crops, Rutgers NJAES 

7:45 PM – Overview of the IR-4 Project and On-Site Trials (15 min) 

  • Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County  
  • Jennifer Fisher, Field Research Director, IR-4 Project, Rutgers University 

8:00 PM – Return to Main Building, Sign Out, and Depart 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
July 27, 2026

Vegetable Disease Update – 7/27/26

There have been no reports of Late blight in the region.

There have been no reports of basil downy mildew.

Anthracnose fruit rot in pepper has been reported in southern New Jersey.

There have been continued reports of southern blight caused by Athelia rolfsii (formerly Sclerotium rolfsii) in tomato and pepper in southern New Jersey. For more information on Southern blight and Timber rot please click here.

Phytophthora blight has been reported on multiple crops in New Jersey.

There have been no reports of cucurbit downy mildew in New Jersey and the mid-Atlantic region. CDM has been reported as far north as North Carolina on cantaloupe and cucumber to date. To follow the progress of CDM in the US please visit the CDMpipe website here.

Bacterial leaf spot in pepper and tomato continues to be reported.

Resistance-breaking strains of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (RB-TSWV) have been reported in southern New Jersey. Please click here for more information on TSWV.

Please follow our weekly Vegetable IPM Updates to stay current on insect pests and vegetable diseases throughout the growing season!

For more information on these diseases and their control please see the NEW 2026/2027 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
July 27, 2026

Anthracnose fruit rot in bell and non-bell pepper

Pepper Anthracnose

Pepper Anthracnose

Pepper anthracnose was reported last week in southern New Jersey.

Unlike in tomato, where symptoms are only present in mature (red) fruit, pepper anthracnose can infect bell or non-bell pepper fruit at any growth stage. Unfortunately, there are no commercially-available bell or non-bell peppers with known resistance to anthracnose; however breeding efforts continue. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,