When using blended products:

• Know the pest that you need to control.
• Use an appropriate insecticide that will do the job with as little negative impact as possible.
• Avoid broad spectrum insecticides when possible.
• Avoid using redundant materials.

Over the past decade, the number of vegetable insecticides (both commercial products and insecticide classes) has increased significantly.  Included in these are a number of materials with novel modes of action (MOA), and high degrees of pest specificity. For example, some newer materials have efficacy against caterpillars only, while others may control caterpillars and some fly larvae. Other examples are detailed in the chart, Combination Insecticide Products for Commercial Vegetable Crops. This article clarifies the options in the Commercial Vegetable Recommendations so that growers may make more informed choices as to the most useful product for specific pests. [Read more…]

Basil downy mildew was reported in a greenhouse in Virginia last week. The first question I asked myself was, “How can that be?”

Basil downy mildew on overwintered sweet basil plant.
Note symptoms on leaf top side and downy mildew spores on leaf underside.

The infected plants in question, roughly 12 mature potted sweet basil plants, were just a few plants that were left over from last fall and carried over the winter in a non-heated high tunnel on benches with heated mats and row cover. The heated mats and row cover were for protecting other crops. Interestingly, the basil did not freeze out, somehow managed to survive the winter without much heat, and produce downy mildew spores once the outside temperatures rose.
[Read more…]

The map shows the general location of traps and the number of weevils caught between April 17 and 28

Adult pepper weevils have been caught in some of the traps that are set at or near produce handling facilities in southern New Jersey.   Since Florida vegetable crops newsletters indicate severe populations of pepper weevils in some regions of that state, this is not surprising.  Pepper weevils escaping into the environs around these facilities may be a problem if they are able to find solanaceous weeds before crops like peppers, tomatoes and eggplant are transplanted.

We will report weekly the numbers of weevils caught in the area and their general location in a map like the one here.  Between April 17 and April 28, 5 weevils have been caught.  Pepper farmers near these areas should consider monitoring for the presence of weevil once they have transplanted their peppers to the field.  For more information contact Joe Ingerson-Mahar at mahar@njaes.rutgers.edu