Rutgers Cooperative Extension
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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Rutgers Weather Forecasting - Meteorological Information important to commercial agriculture.
Blackleg is caused by Erwinia spp. which also cause ‘soft rots’. The bacteria which lead to the aerial phase of Blackleg are soil-borne (originate from old crop debris) and spread by rainfall, overhead irrigation and wind. [Read more…]
Angular leaf spot is common in New Jersey and the region. It often shows up during cool, wet weather and isolated rain.
Symptoms of angular leaf spot in cucurbit.
Angular leaf spot of pumpkin. Note leaf ‘shot holes’.
Angular leaf spot will first appear as, small water-soaked lesions which will expand until they reach a larger leaf vein resulting in the angular looking symptoms on leaves. Under heavy disease pressure, the bacteria will infect fruit causing small, water-soaked circular spots. In many cases once weather conditions become dry again, infected tissue in leaves will die and fall out leaving the characteristic ‘shot hole’ symptoms. Control of angular leaf spot begins with the application of labeled rates of fixed copper plus mancozeb to help suppress the spread of the disease until hot, dry weather returns.
With the wet weather, conditions for the crown rot phase of Phytophthora blight have increased. Phytophthora blight typically develops in low-lying areas of fields after a heavy rain and can spread quickly throughout the entire field. Planting on a ridge or raised, dome-shaped bed will help provide better soil drainage. [Read more…]
Severe hail damage on pepper transplants.
Vegetable IPM Report 5-21-14 – Click to View | Download | Print
Maps for the WeekClick Image to View
–Pepper Weevil Trap Catch Map
–European Corn Borer Population MapTopics for the Week
- Sweet Corn
- Cole Crops
- Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Pepper Weevil Report
- BMSB
Sweet corn that has emerged has been observed yellow or light green in color. The chlorosis may be uniform, or appear mottled on the plant, or only the newest leaf growing out of the whorl is yellow. Cold weather is responsible for the injury. Corn cannot make chlorophyll when the temperature fails to climb above 65 to 70 degrees for an extended period. Herbicides are not responsible for the problem. Varietal differences to cold tolerance exist. The corn will turn green when the weather turns warm.
