Rutgers University | New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station | Pesticide User Responsibility

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 22, 2014

Cucurbit Downy Mildew Confirmed in Southern NJ – 7/22/14

Cucurbit downy mildew was confirmed in a 10 acre cucumber field near Rosenhayn in southern New Jersey today.

This is the first report of cucurbit downy mildew in New Jersey this growing season. All commercial cucurbit growers in the state and region should scout their fields on a regular basis. Growers who have not already included downy mildew specific fungicides into their weekly fungicide programs should do so immediately.

Symptoms of cucurbit downy mildew on infected cucumber leaf.

Symptoms of cucurbit downy mildew
on cucumber leaf.

If left uncontrolled, cucurbit downy mildew will cause significant losses. For more information on controlling cucurbit downy mildew please see the 2014 Commercial Fungicide Recommendations Guide.

Organic growers can apply copper and other OMRI-labeled products at labeled rates to help suppress downy mildew development under light disease pressure.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
July 19, 2014

Vegetable Diseases of the Week

Southern Blight on Tomato

Note the small, spherical fruiting bodies (sclerotia) developing on the surface of the stem. The sclerotia can survive in the soil for many years without a host.

Southern blight on infected tomato stem. Note the small, spherical fruiting bodies developing on the surface of the stem

Southern blight on infected tomato stem.

White Mold on Cabbage

White mold on cabbage producing large, black fruiting bodies (sclerotia). The sclerotia can survive in the soil for many years without a host present.

White mold on cabbage producing large, black fruiting bodies (sclerotia). The sclerotia can survive without a host for many years in the soil.

White Mold on Cabbage

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
July 19, 2014

Vegetable Briefs – 7/19/14

Basil downy mildew

Basil Downy Mildew remains active in New Jersey. All basil growers should scout on a daily basis and taking appropriate preventative measures.

Cucurbit downy mildew

Cucurbit Downy Mildew has been reported as far north as northern Maryland and in central Michigan to-date. With the latest weather this past week, all cucurbit growers should scout on a regular basis and adjust fungicide programs accordingly and begin to apply downy mildew specific fungicides if not already done so. Organic growers should apply copper or other OMRI-approved products to help prevent and suppress downy mildew development. If you suspect CDM on your farm please contact your count agent so we can confirm and report it. To track downy mildew in the US please visit NCSU’s Downy Mildew Forecasting Website.

Cucurbit growers should scout on a regular basis and adjust fungicide programs to incorporate powdery mildew specific fungicides into their weekly fungicide programs.

Peppers and Tomatoes

Bacterial leaf spot has been reported on both crops. Heavy wind and rains have been experienced throughout the state. Remember that all bacteria need a natural opening (i.e., stomata) or a wound (i.e., from typing or pruning) to enter a plant to start an infection.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
July 19, 2014

Don’t Rely on Disinfestants for Disease Control

The hot, wet weather this past week brought with it heavy winds and rain to many areas and spikes in reports of Phytophthora blight and bacterial problems on tomato and pepper. In general, this type of weather is ideal for the development and spread of many vegetable diseases. 

By now most growers are on weekly protectant fungicide programs to help prevent disease development. It’s important to remember at this point in the season when disease pressure is high that growers stick with their standard fungicide programs.

Growers should not replace fungicides with disinfestant-type products in their weekly fungicide programs.

Remember, the disinfestants only kill what they come into direct and immediate contact with and do not offer any residual activity like fungicides do. Disinfestants should be used in conjunction with weekly fungicide programs and be applied based on specific weather events such as following rainfall or overhead irrigation or after certain cultural practices such as tying or pruning where plant injury or wounding may occur.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
July 18, 2014

Vegetable Twilight Meeting & Field Tour

Date: Thursday, August 21, 2014 5:30pm
Location: RAREC, 121 Northville Rd, Bridgeton, NJ

Click to View Program

Join Rutgers for a twilight meeting in the field to learn about recent innovations for successful control of key vegetable diseases and weeds. Pesticide credits have been requested.

This is your opportunity to bring plant, insect, disease or weed problem samples for identification. Rutgers Cooperative Extension Ag Specialists and County Agents will be on hand for the field tour of research and demonstration plots on managing diseases of pepper, basil downy mildew, and cucurbit downy mildew. View weed control innovations and get updates on tomato variety development and ethnic African vegetables.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Vegetable Crops
July 18, 2014

More Late Blight Reported in PA

More late blight was reported in Pennsylvania this past week in Clinton, Lackawanna, and Berks Counties. The wet weather this past week as been ideal for its development across most of the mid-Atlantic region.

To date, no late blight has been reported in New Jersey on potatoes or tomato. However, all tomato and potato growers in New Jersey should be scouting and applying preventative fungicides on a regular basis.

For more information on late blight in PA see Late Blight is Spreading Across Pennsylvania.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops