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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April 24, 2018

Controlling Spring Diseases in Asparagus

Asparagus season is just around the corner and now is a good time to review important diseases.

Wet soil conditions are ideal for Phytophthora and Pythium development. To help reduce potential losses, especially in fields with low spots or fields that are poorly drained soils, or more importantly, in fields with a history of either disease apply Ridomil Gold 4SL (mefenoxam, 4) at 1.0 pt/A, or Ultra Flourish 2E/A (mefenoxam, 4) at 2.0 pt/A, or MetaStar 2E (metalaxyl, 4) at 2.0 qt/A over beds just before first harvest. For new plantings, apply the same after planting or after crown covering. Do not apply Ridomil or MetaStar one day prior to harvest or illegal residues may result. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
April 24, 2018

Controlling Strawberry Fruit Rots – 2018

Anthracnose fruit rot of strawberry

Anthracnose Fruit Rot of Strawberry

Fruit rots in strawberry can cause significant losses if not recognized early and controlled. The use of good cultural practices such as keeping fields weed-free and promoting good drainage, long crop rotations, and preventative fungicide applications are critical.

Pathogens such as anthracnose, gray mold (Botrytis), and leather rot (Phytophthora) can become systemic problems in strawberry plantings once established. All three fungal diseases are soil-borne and once in fields can be difficult to manage over the lifetime of the planting.

The use of mulch (matted rows) to prevent/reduce soil splashing and keeping fruit from coming into direct contact with the soil surface can be beneficial in organic production systems where conventional fungicides cannot be used. Use of long crop rotations and staying away from areas of the farm with known instances of any of these pathogens is also important. Remember that same species of Colletotrichum that causes fruit rot in pepper and other crops can also infect strawberry.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
April 19, 2018

Weather Conditions Favor Seed Corn Maggot Activity in Early Cucurbit Plantings

Seed corn maggot larvae and adult flies have been detected in early seeded zucchini squash fields in Gloucester County this week. They are most likely in other areas of Southern New Jersey. Seed corn maggots can also attack other vegetable crops like beans, peas, cucumbers, melons and sweet corn. Cool and wet weather increase activity and survivability of this early season pest. When adult maggots lay eggs near the planting hole, eggs can hatch in just a few days after being laid. Maggots then can burrow into seeds or seedlings, feed for a period of 2 to 3 weeks and then develop into egg-laying adults. There can be many generations per year, but activity is heightened during periods of cool and wet weather.

Adult flies are most abundant in fields with cover crops, fields that have just been tilled, or in fields that have had manure applied. When a seed or seedling is attacked, it may continue to grow, but will be weak and not produce a crop. Preventative control methods are most effective, since once larvae are found causing damage in the field, they are difficult to control underground. Some commercial insecticide seed treatments are available. See page 112 of the Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations, 2018 guide. This information can be downloaded at http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.php?pid=E001

Other preventative methods include row covers to create a barrier between the insect pest and the seeds or seedlings, waiting to plant in the field until soils and air temperatures are warm enough to quicken germination and plant growth, and selecting fields for early plantings with low organic matter and that do not remain wet for long periods.

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
April 12, 2018

Veg IPM Update: Allium leaf miner 04/12/18

Allium Leaf Miner

Allium leaf miner (ALM) adults (flies) and a very limited number of leaves with feeding signs were discovered Thursday at sites in Lawrenceville and Pennington (Mercer County).  As yet, no adult activity or feeding has been found at the more northern sites in Milford, Pittstown and Asbury (Hunterdon County).  Affected crops include chives, scallions, garlic and leeks.  Indications are that we are 2-3 weeks behind last year’s development, but warmer weather through the coming weekend will surely result in more apparent infestations.

Floating row covers, kept on until the first flight ends will help minimize access to plants.  Insecticide applications targeting adults may be helpful as well, although frequency of applications is uncertain.  Spinosyn materials (Radiant, Entrust (OMRI approved)), pyrethroids (Mustang Maxx, Warrior), and pyrethrin materials (Pyganic (OMRI approved)), neonicotinoids (Scorpion, Venom) and the insect growth regulator Trigard are labeled for miner control.

Adult activity and observations of feeding will be reported on in the IPM Update as they occur.  At this time, all growers should respond to the onset of the first adult generation.  We will attempt to identify the end of the first flight so that growers know when the risk of infestation has abated.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
April 6, 2018

Veg IPM Update: Allium leaf miner 04/06/18

Allium Leaf Miner

     

 

Allium leaf miner (ALM) traps (sticky cards) were deployed on March 20, in overwintered allium crops at sites in Lawrenceville and Pennington (Mercer County), and Milford, Pittstown and Asbury (Hunterdon County).  These traps have been checked weekly since that time and have returned no positive ALM catches.  Host crops at these sites (chive, scallion and garlic)  were free of injury as of April 5.  In 2017, traps placed at these locations were already catching ALM adults by the end of March, and feeding injury was easily discovered on chives.  Indications are that we are 2-3 weeks behind last year’s development.

We do have confirmed injury and sighting of adult ALM on scallions in high tunnel production in the Pennington area, but insect development in this warmer protected environment is not indicative of what is occurring outdoors.  As weather warms, expect adults to emerge and become active.  They will feed on available allium crops, which will include overwintered chives and garlic as well as newly transplanted onions and scallions and leeks.  Look for characteristic dots (see photo at center) on the upper portion of upright leaves.  Expect that any plant with these feeding/egg laying scars is infested.  Larvae will tunnel downward (see photo at right); ultimately pupating in the neck of the plant (see late instar larva at left).

Floating row covers, kept on until the first flight ends will help minimize access to plants.  Insecticide applications targeting adults may be helpful as well, although frequency of applications is uncertain.  Spinosyn materials (Radiant, Entrust (OMRI approved)), pyrethroids (Mustang Maxx, Warrior), and pyrethrin materials (Pyganic (OMRI approved)), neonicotinoids (Scorpion, Venom) and the insect growth regulator Trigard are labeled for miner control.

Adult activity and observations of feeding will be reported on in the IPM Update as they occur.  We will attempt to identify the beginning and end of the first flight so that growers know when they should initiate control tactics and when the risk of infestation has abated.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
April 5, 2018

South Jersey Vegetable Twilight Scheduled for 4/26

The South Jersey Vegetable Agents would like to invite you to our annual Spring integrated crop management meeting:

Vegetable Integrated Crop Management
Twilight Meeting
Thursday, April 26, 2018
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
East Vineland Fire Hall
4931 Landis Ave. across from the Savoy Restaurant
(park behind the building and enter conference room door in rear)

6:00 pm Robots, Roselle & Resistant Basil, Finally!
– Rick VanVranken, RCE Atlantic
6:15 pm Respiratory Protection Requirements for WPS-labeled Pesticides
– Patricia Hastings, Rutgers Pesticide Safety Educ Program Coordinator
6:45 pm Soil Fertility, Liming, and Silicon Nutrition
– Joseph Heckman, Ph.D., Extension Specialist – Soil Fertility
7:15 pm Update on Herbicides & Restrictions in New Jersey Vine Crops
– Dr. Thierry Besancon, RCE Specialty Crop Weed Specialist
7:45 pm Pepper Variety Evaluations
– Dr. Wes Kline, RCE Cumberland
8:00 pm Vegetable Disease Control Options for Spring Crops
– Dr. Andy Wyenandt, RCE Vegetable Plant Pathologist
8:30 pm Vegetable Insect Pest Update
– Dr. Joe Mahar, Vegetable IPM Coordinator
9:00 pm Adjourn

Pesticide Recertification Credits have been requested for this meeting.
Hope to see you there!

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops