- All cucurbit growers are encouraged to scout their fields on a regular basis and continue to use a downy mildew specific fungicide program. Fungicides that are specific to CDM should be included in weekly fungicide maintenance programs for cucurbit powdery mildew control. To track the progress of CDM in the US please visit the CDMpipe forecasting website here.
- Basil downy mildew has been reported in New Jersey on BDM susceptible and resistant sweet basil lines. All basil growers should continue to scout and follow a BDM specific fungicide program even when using DMR varieties. To track the progress of BDM in the US please visit here.
- Downy mildew has been reported in turnip greens. Growers who have fall leafy greens and cole crops should scout daily and be proactive and initiate a regular downy mildew specific fungicide program. Although its been relatively dry, spotty showers, cooler nights, and longer periods of dew (leaf wetness) have made conditions ideal for downy mildew development across a number of susceptible crops.
- Pepper anthracnose continues to be reported.
- The 2019 Fungicide Resistance Management Guide for Vegetable Crops in the mid-Atlantic Region is now available for FREE online.
- For more information on controlling these and other important diseases please see the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Guide. The guide is available for FREE online by following the links on the Plant and Pest Advisory website. Hardcopies of the 2019 guide can be purchased through your local county Extension office.
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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September 18, 2019 Andy Wyenandt
Vegetable Disease Update – 9/17/19
September 18, 2019 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 9/18/19
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moth captures remain scattered and very low, and no map will appear in this addition. There are very few plantings not yet silking. Silk sprays for corn earworm (CEW) control will serve to manage ECB larvae as well. Reminder: Useful insecticides for worm control in the silk stage include spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen. Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn. Control with these materials is very inconsistent.
Corn earworm (CEW) moth catches have changed little in NJ this past week. Overall, CEW numbers represent a normal late summer population. While moth counts will decline somewhat with cool night temperatures, look for strong rebounds when nighttime temperatures exceed 60F. The green area on the blacklight map (left) represents a 3-day silk spray schedule zone. Blue and white areas within the overall green zone are outliers, and corn growers in or near those areas should also adhere to 3-day silk spray schedules. Economically damaging populations of this pest are present throughout the state, and all areas are at extreme risk of crop injury if strict silk spray schedules are not observed. Red areas on the on the pheromone trap map (below at right) indicate a 3-day silk 
spray schedule, while green indicates a 4-5 day silk spray schedule. Currently, the black light network is indicating a more conservative spray regime statewide, than is the pheromone network. Taken together, blacklight and pheromone traps are indicating 3-day silk spray schedules throughout the state. There are far fewer CEW pheromone traps than blacklights, and the resulting map has much broader color bands as a result. It should also be noted that the pheromone traps are much more sensitive than blacklights. Therefore, the number of moths caught in pheromone traps required to generate a specific spray interval is much higher than the number caught in blacklight traps. It must be stressed that there is high variability in these catches, and growers should consult with their IPM practitioner on recommended spray schedules.
September 11, 2019 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 9/11/19
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moth captures remain scattered and very low, and no map will appear in this addition. Feeding in late season pre-tassel corn in northern NJ continues, with some plantings exceeding the 12% threshold. In combination with fall armyworm (FAW) feeding, action thresholds have been exceeded in all areas of the state.
Growers should continue to scout whorl and pre-tassel stage plantings weekly and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample. As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels. It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time. This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.
Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic pyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen. Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn. Control with these materials is very inconsistent.
The highest nightly black light trap catches of ECB for the week ending 9/11/19 are as follows:
| Allamuchy 1 | Jones Island 1 |
| Chester 1 | Monroeville 1 |
| Elm 1 | Oldwick 1 |
Corn earworm (CEW) moth catches have remained fairly stable in NJ this past week. Blacklight catches are steady, while there was a slight decline in pheromone trap catches. However, the effect on spray schedules is unchanged. Overall, CEW numbers now represent a sizeable late summer migratory influx. While moth counts will decline somewhat with cool night temperatures, look for strong rebounds when nighttime temperatures exceed 60F. The green area on the blacklight map (left) represents a 3-day silk spray schedule zone. Blue and white areas within the overall green zone are outliers, and corn growers in or near those areas should also adhere to 3-day silk spray schedules. Economically damaging populations of this pest are present throughout the state, and all areas are at extreme risk of crop injury if strict silk spray schedules are not observed. Red areas on the on the pheromone trap map (below at right) indicate a 3-day silk 
spray schedule, while green indicates a 4-5 day silk spray schedule. Currently, the black light network is indicating a more conservative spray regime statewide, than is the pheromone network. Taken together, blacklight and pheromone traps are indicating 3-day silk spray schedules throughout the state. There are far fewer CEW pheromone traps than blacklights, and the resulting map has much broader color bands as a result. It should also be noted that the pheromone traps are much more sensitive than blacklights. Therefore, the number of moths caught in pheromone traps required to generate a specific spray interval is much higher than the number caught in blacklight traps. It must be stressed that there is high variability in these catches, and growers should consult with their IPM practitioner on recommended spray schedules.
September 4, 2019 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 9/04/19
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moth captures remain very low, and no map will appear in this addition. Feeding in late season pre-tassel corn in northern NJ continues, with some plantings exceeding the 12% threshold. In combination with fall armyworm (FAW) feeding, action thresholds have been exceeded in all areas of the state.
Growers should continue to scout whorl and pre-tassel stage plantings weekly and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample. As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels. It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time. This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.
Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic pyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen. Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn. Control with these materials is very inconsistent.
The highest nightly black light trap catches of ECB for the week ending 9/04/19 are as follows:
| Medford 2 | Jobstown 1 |
| Califon 1 | Jones Island 1 |
| Cinnaminson 1 |
Corn earworm (CEW) moth catches increased in southern NJ this past week, while remaining stable in northern counties. Overall, CEW numbers now represent a sizeable late summer migratory influx. While moth counts will decline somewhat with cool night temperatures, look for strong rebounds when nighttime temperatures exceed 60F. The green area on the blacklight map (left) represents a 3-day silk spray schedule zone. Blue and white areas within the overall green zone are outliers, and corn growers in or near those areas should also adhere to 3-day silk spray schedules. There continue to be some exceptionally high catches in southern NJ pheromone traps this past week (see pheromone trap map below at right). Economically damaging populations of this pest are present throughout the state, and all areas are at extreme risk of crop injury if strict silk spray schedules are not observed. Red areas on the on the pheromone trap map indicate a 3-day silk 
spray schedule, while green indicates a 4-5 day silk spray schedule. Currently, the black light network is indicating a more conservative spray regime statewide, than is the pheromone network. Taken together, blacklight and pheromone traps are indicating 3-day silk spray schedules throughout the state. There are far fewer CEW pheromone traps than blacklights, and the resulting map has much broader color bands as a result. It should also be noted that the pheromone traps are much more sensitive than blacklights. Therefore, the number of moths caught in pheromone traps required to generate a specific spray interval is much higher than the number caught in blacklight traps. It must be stressed that there is high variability in these catches, and growers should consult with their IPM practitioner on recommended spray schedules.
August 28, 2019 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 8/28/19
Sweet Corn
Note: Traps in some portions of southern New Jersey were not serviced over the past week. The impact of this will be addressed in individual sweet corn pest sections.
European corn borer (ECB) moth captures have decreased generally over the past week and no map will appear in this addition. Feeding in late season whorl and pretassel corn in northern NJ has increased, with some plantings exceeding the 12% threshold. This week, unsprayed sweet corn in the sentinel plots (Providence) at Snyder Farm in Hunterdon County had 47% ECB infested ears, despite little indication of adult activity in the area. Most of these larvae were in the tips of ears, which underscores the importance of the silk spray schedule in not only controlling CEW, but ECB that move from tassel to ear during the silk period. In combination with fall armyworm (FAW) feeding, action thresholds have been exceeded in all areas of the state.
Growers should continue to scout whorl and pre-tassel stage plantings weekly and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample. As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels. It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time. This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.
Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic pyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen. Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn. Control with these materials is very inconsistent.
The highest nightly black light trap catches of ECB for the week ending 8/28/19 are as follows:
| Downer 3 | Hillsborough 1 | South Branch 1 |
| Califon 1 | Milltown 1 | |
| Denville 1 | Sergeantsville 1 |
Corn earworm (CEW) moth catches increased dramatically beginning late last week in all traps. Overall, CEW numbers now represent a sizeable late summer migratory influx. While moth counts declined somewhat with cool night temperatures since the weekend, we are still experiencing high activity. The white area in southwestern NJ on the blacklight map (left) should be considered to be solidly in the 3-day silk spray schedule zone. We are missing trap data in that area, but activity should be similar to surrounding areas. There continue to be some exceptionally high catches in southern NJ pheromone traps this past week (see pheromone trap map below at right). There are now economically damaging populations of this pest throughout the state, and all areas are at extreme risk of crop injury if strict silk spray schedules are not observed. Red areas on the on the pheromone trap map indicate a 3-day silk 
spray schedule, while green indicates a 4-5 day silk spray schedule. Blue areas represent a 5-6 day schedule, and white areas are 6-7 day. Taken together, blacklight and pheromone traps are indicating 3-day silk spray schedules throughout the state. There are far fewer CEW pheromone traps than blacklights, and the resulting map has much broader color bands as a result. It should also be noted that the pheromone traps are much more sensitive than blacklights. Therefore, the number of moths caught in pheromone traps required to generate a specific spray interval is much higher than the number caught in blacklight traps. It must be stressed that there is high variability in these catches, and growers should consult with their IPM practitioner on recommended spray schedules.
August 21, 2019 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 8/21/19
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moth captures have increased in some areas over the past week (see map at left), although catches are very inconsistent. Late summer activity is overall low and scattered. Minor feeding has appeared in whorl and pre-tassel corn, but rarely rises to the 12% threshold by itself. In combination with fall armyworm (FAW) feeding, action thresholds have been exceeded in all areas of the state.
Growers should continue to scout whorl and pre-tassel stage plantings weekly and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample. As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels. It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time. This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.
Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic pyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen. Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn. Control with these materials is very inconsistent.
The highest nightly black light trap catches of ECB for the week ending 8/21/19 are as follows:
| Downer 2 | Clinton 1 | Elm 1 | Milford 1 |
| Asbury 1 | Dayton 1 | Hillsborough 1 | Milltown 1 |
| Califon 1 | Eldora 1 | Jobstown 1 | Sergeantsville 1 |
Corn earworm (CEW) moth catches have remained fairly steady over the past week in both trap types. Overall, CEW numbers are moderately high, but not unusual for this time of year. There continue to be some very high catches in southern NJ pheromone traps this past week (see blacklight map at left, and pheromone trap map below at right). There are now economically important populations of this pest throughout the state, and most areas are at extreme risk of crop injury if strict silk spray schedules are not observed. Red areas on the on the pheromone trap map indicate a 3-day silk 
spray schedule, while green indicates a 4-5 day silk spray schedule. Blue areas represent a 5-6 day schedule, and white areas are 6-7 day. There are far fewer CEW pheromone traps than blacklights, and the resulting map has much broader color bands as a result. It should also be noted that the pheromone traps are much more sensitive than blacklights. Therefore, the number of moths caught in pheromone traps required to generate a specific spray interval is much higher than the number caught in blacklight traps. It must be stressed that there is high variability in these catches, and growers should consult with their IPM practitioner on recommended spray schedules.
