There has been a lot of movement just in the last two weeks. We are seeing a lot of trees about to flower or in full flower. The grapes are swelling and some early varieties are at bud burst. Our field Strawberries are at tight bud or popcorn stage now. The Strawberries in the high…Read more about Crop Conditions[Read More]
Plums
The Purdue Meigs Horticulture Facility in Lafayette, Indiana just south of campus is looking lively this time of the year. All our fruit crops and trees have begun development. I know last year I said we had a warm winter and early spring but this year was much warmer and earlier. I was working fields…Read more about Crop Conditions[Read More]
The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive planthopper native to East Asia. It was introduced to the US in 2014 in Eastern Pennsylvania and has since spread to 13 other states including Indiana. The Spotted Lanternfly has 70+ host species including the invasive Tree of heaven (Alianthus altissma), grapes, apples, stone fruit, vegetables, hops, walnuts and…Read more about Keep an Eye out for Spotted Lanternfly[Read More]
At the Meigs Horticultural facility, we have been busy completing cover sprays and with crop maintenance. The total rainfall at Meigs this June has totaled a half inch. We need rain to help with fruit development. As a result of very little rainfall, we’ve had very little disease pressure. The last harvest of our Strawberries…Read more about Crop Conditions[Read More]
At the Meigs Horticultural facility on April 24th we experienced freezing temperatures from 2 am until 7 am, with a low of 26.8 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour. The damage to fruit crops on the farm is scattered depending on varieties. A rough estimate would be 10% cold damage on the crops. The growth stages…Read more about Crop Conditions[Read More]