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 3, 2013

Cucurbit downy mildew found on cucumber in New Jersey – 7/3/13

Cucurbit downy mildew was found in a commercial cucumber field in Salem County in southern New Jersey today. This is the first report of cucurbit downy mildew in the state this growing season. All cucurbit growers should scout their fields on a regular basis and should add a downy mildew specific fungicide to thier weekly fungicide maintenance program.  For current 2013 Cucurbit Downy and Powdery Mildew Management Guidelines please see post from 6/7/13. Additional information on the control of cucurbit downy mildew can be found in the 2013 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations.

Organic growers should scout thier cucurbit plantings on a regular basis and apply an OMRI-approved copper based fungicide or other labeled product to help suppress the development of cucurbit downy mildew. Adequate and repeated spray coverage of the bottom of all leaf surfaces is critical for the control of cucurbit downy mildew in organic cucurbit production. It is important to remember that control of downy mildew begins with planting resistant cucumber varieties when possible. No other cucurbits have resistance to downy mildew.

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July 2, 2013

Late blight found in processing tomato in New Jersey – 7/2/13

Late blight was found in processing tomato in Salem County today. Late blight was found in an organic tomato field in Mercer County last week. All commercial and organic tomato and potato growers in NJ should now consider late blight a significant threat and should take immediate steps. All growers should scout their fields on a daily basis. All commercial tomato and potato growers should include late blight specific fungicides in their regular fungicide maintenance programs. All organic tomato and potato growers should apply OMRI-approved copper based products to help suppress late blight development. As long as the current weather conditions continue, late blight will remain a significant threat.

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July 2, 2013

Late blight found on potato in New Jersey – 7/2/13

Late blight has been confirmed in two commercial potatoes field in Salem County. These are the first reports of late blight on potato in the state. Late blight was found in an organic tomato field in Mercer County last week. All commercial and organic tomato and potato growers in NJ should now consider late blight a significant threat and should take immediate steps. All growers should scout their fields on a daily basis. All commercial tomato and potato growers should include late blight specific fungicides in their regular fungicide maintenance programs. All organic tomato and potato growers should apply OMRI-approved copper based products to help suppress late blight development. As long as the current weather conditions continue, late blight will remain a significant threat.

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July 1, 2013

Late blight found on potato in Delaware

Late blight was found in commercial potato field near Leipsic, DE today. The wet weather forecasted for most of this week looks favorable for potential late blight development in New Jersey. Growers should continue to scout their fields on a regular basis and apply weekly protectant fungides whenever they can get into the field. To date, there has been one reported case of late blight on tomato in New Jersey (Mercer County). If you suspect late blight on your farm please contact your county agent.

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June 27, 2013

Pepper Anthracnose Reported

Pepper Anthracnose

Pepper anthracnose symptoms
on bell pepper fruit:
note pink-orange spore masses.

The first cases of pepper anthracnose are being reported. Pepper anthracnose can be extremely destructive causing 100% loss if left uncontrolled. No peppers are resistant to anthracnose.

Growers with a history of pepper anthracnose on their farm or in particular fields should be highly diligent and scout their fields on a regular basis looking for ‘hot spots’.

Pepper anthracnose always starts out as a ‘hot spot’ and then fans out with the prevailing direction of the wind. The hot, wet weather and isolated afternoon and evening showers in many areas have been ideal for anthracnose development. If a ‘hot spot’ is found, all fruit (of any size) from the area and from nearly plants should be strip-picked and discarded appropriately. [Read more…]

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June 26, 2013

Late Blight Found on Tomato in Mercer County

Late blight has been found in a 2 acre organic tomato field in Mercer County. This is the first report of Late blight in New Jersey this growing season.

All tomato and potato growers in New Jersey should scout thier fields immediately, especially if fields have not been scouted in the the last 5 to 7 days. At this point, this is just an isolated case. Late blight has not been reported elsewhere in the state. All tomato and potato growers should continue with their regular protectant fungicide programs. The extremely hot weather (> 90 degrees) the last few days should help reduce the threat of late blight as long as the isolated rain showers have missed your farm.

If you suspect late blight on your farm please contact your county agent. For more information on the control of Late blight please see the 2013 commercial vegetable production recommendations guide.

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