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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May 25, 2016

Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 5/25/16

16ecb0525

Sweet Corn

European corn borer (ECB) adults are being captured with more frequency now, but most captures remain limited to the southwestern portion of the state (see ECB map), although scattered individuals have been captured as far north as Morris County.  Warmer nights for the rest of this week may result in increased catches for the next several days.   Most early sweet corn plantings are too young to support ECB larval infestations. However, over the next two weeks we could begin to see feeding in the most advanced plantings. Be sure to begin monitoring the earliest plantings for ECB feeding while they are still in the whorl stage.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
May 25, 2016

Vegetable Disease Briefs – 5/25/16

  • No new reports of Late blight in the region this past week.
  • Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported on cucumber as far north as south-central Georgia.
  • Septoria leaf spot has been reported in Parsley.
  • Anthracnose fruit rot is being reported in strawberry.
  • Botrytis is being reported in greenhouse tomatoes and in strawberries fields. The weather the past few weeks has been ideal for its development in a multitude of crops. Growers need to scout on a regular basis and incorporate Botrytis specific fungicides into their weekly maintenance sprays as long as the current weather pattern remains the same.
  • Transplant health – transplants that have yet to be put in the field and that are showing signs of stress via the lack of fertility and water to keep them to size can become predisposed to a multiple of opportunistic fungal and bacterial pathogens. Growers need to pay close attention to and adjust fertility and watering programs on a daily basis and consider preventative fungicide applications.

 

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
May 18, 2016

Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 5/18/16

16ecb0518

Sweet Corn

A few European corn borer (ECB) adults are being captured now, despite cool conditions.  At the present, areas of highest activity include Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties (see ECB map), although scattered individuals have been captured as far north as Morris County.  Cooler nights for the rest of this week may suppress catches for the next several days.   Most early sweet corn plantings are too young to support ECB larval infestations. However, over the next three weeks we should begin to see feeding in the most advanced plantings. Be sure to begin monitoring the earliest plantings for ECB feeding while they are still in the whorl stage.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
May 17, 2016

RCE Hosting a “Pollinator Victory Garden” Workshop

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County is hosting “The Pollinator Victory Garden: Winning the War on Pollinator Decline” on Wednesday, June 8 from 5:30 to p.m., rain or shine, at Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 355 Court House – South Dennis Road, Cape May Court House, New Jersey.

 Participants will learn how to attract an array of pollinators, what plants they eat, how to provide them with shelter, and how to help win the war on pollinator decline.  Also, each recipient will receive starter plants for their victory garden. Kim Eierman, Environmental Horticulturist and founder of EcoBeneficial will be presenting. Eierman specializes in ecological landscapes and native plants. She teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Native Plant Center in NY, Rutgers Home Gardeners School and others.  In addition to being a Certified Horticulturist through the American Society for Horticultural Science, Eierman is a Master Gardener, a Master Naturalist, an Accredited Organic Landcare Professional, a Steering Committee member of The Native Plant Center and a member of the Garden Writers Association.

 This is a beginner class, therefore, no experience is needed.  The cost for this workshop is $25 and includes dinner and all materials.  Registration is due by June 1, 2016.  To register or for more information, please call 609-465-5115, ext. 607 or email dana.tyndall@co.cape-may.nj.us

See official flyer  here.

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Organic Production Tagged With:
May 17, 2016

Late blight confirmed on tomato in Western Maryland – 5/17/16

Late blight (US23) was confirmed on tomato in a small, retail greenhouse operation in western Maryland (Garrett Co.) today. This is the first report of Late blight on tomato or potato this growing season. US23 has been the most prevalent genotype found in the region the last few years and can infect tomato or potato. While the current report not an immediate threat to NJ, all tomato and potato growers should scout fields on a regular basis as long as wet weather pattern continues. At this time, general protectant fungicide programs that have been initiated will help protect against Late blight. Importantly, in order for Late blight to appear this early in our region it must either have survived on an infested potato tuber left in the field or in a cull pile. For more information on the control of late blight please see the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Production Recommendations Guide.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Disease Forecasting, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
May 16, 2016

Basil downy mildew – 24c’s granted for Subdue Maxx and Heritage use in greenhouse

Special local needs labels (24c) have been granted for the use of Subdue Maxx (mefenoxam, 4) and Heritage (azoxystrobin, 11) for downy mildew (Peronospora belbahrii) on basil transplants grown for resale to consumers in New Jersey. Micora (mandipropamid, 40) also has a supplemental label for the control of basil downy mildew in the greenhouse. In order to use these fungicide, growers must have in their possession the 24c labels. Please see label for specific rates, REI’s, and PHI’s. Please here click on Subdue Maxx, Heritage, or Micora for links to the 24c label.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: