With the relatively dry spring we’ve had thus far, it’s easy to forget about Pythium and Phytophthora! The same question always comes up about this time of year when growers begin to start thinking about transplanting their tomato and pepper crops. “What should I do to help prevent Pythium and Phytophthora?”

In years past, the answer was simple, apply mefenoxam (Ridomil Gold SL, Ultra Flourish, 4) or metalaxyl (MetaStar, 4). Problem solved, right? In the past, that answer was right, but with resistance development in Phytophthora (P. capsici) to both mefenoxam and metalaxyl, the correct answer isn’t so simple anymore. [Read more…]

• Asparagus: Phytophthora crown and spear rot
• Cabbage: Damping-off
• Cole crops: Downy Mildew and Alternaria
• Leeks (overwintered, spring transplanted): Purple blotch
• Lettuce: Bottom Rot/Drop
• Parsley: Septoria Blight/Bacterial (blight) leaf spot
• Strawberry: Anthracnose fruit rot; Botrytis (Gray Mold) and Blossom blight

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Most annual and perennial weeds reproduce from seed, but many perennials also reproduce vegetatively.  Examples of vegetative reproductive parts of weeds include stolens, rhizomes, roots, tubers, bulbs, and nutlets.  Bermudagrass has stolens, which are above ground horizontal stems.  Quackgrass spreads by rhizomes, which are underground horizontal stems.  Canada thistle, milkweed, hemp dogbane, horsenettle, and bindweed species have a deep complex root system with distinct vertical and horizontal roots.  Wild bean has tubers.  Nutsedge has nutlets that can live dormant in the soil for several years.   Perennial weeds are much more difficult to control than annual weeds. [Read more…]

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The Environmental Protection Agency has extended the time for the use of existing stocks of Guthion (azinphos-methyl) in parsley and certain tree fruit crops.  A supplemental label was registered for 2013 allowing the use of guthion until September 30.  Guthion can no longer be purchased and is in a 6 year phase out period.

With a cold, wet March, the spring crops have been slow to be put in, and consequently there have been few pest concerns.  However, this will change with the onset of temperatures nudging 60⁰ F and drier conditions.  There is always the question of how well did the insects survive the winter.    [Read more…]