From 2022-2024, we evaluated the performance 15 strawberry cultivars grown in plasticulture system using black and white-on-black plastic mulches (Figure 1) at two locations: Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center in Vincennes, IN (USDA hardiness zone 6b), and Meigs Purdue Agricultural Center in Lafayette, IN (USDA hardiness zone 6a). Strawberries were harvested for two seasons. Plug plants[Read More…]
Strawberry
Spring is in full swing in our research high tunnels at Purdue. Overwintering strawberries that we planted in September are now in full bloom and fruits are being harvested. But as temperatures increase and crops become more productive, we also see the emergence of various insect pests. Aphids, amongst other soft-bodied insect pests (e.g., whiteflies,[Read More…]
Bare-root strawberry plants often arrive with roots that are 6 to 10 inches long. For optimal planting, the roots should be kept straight, which requires digging a deep hole or using specialized tools. If the planting hole is too shallow, the roots may bend and form what is known as a ‘J-root’. You may have[Read More…]
Hello! This is our third crop conditions update this season. The fruit trees are progressing well as things get up and going around the farm. Most everything has passed 1 or more stages of growth since the third week of this month. Monday the 28th marked our first fungicide application in the vineyard, with the[Read More…]
Lygus is a genus of insects within the family Miridae (Order: Hemiptera, piercing-sucking true bugs) that often feed on common horticultural crops. These small insects have rather large eyes, heavily patterned, neutrally colored wings, and long spindly antennae. The diet of Lygus bugs, as they are colloquially called, is incredibly diverse ranging from cotton and[Read More…]
Crop Status Plug plants set on black plastic mulch in late summer and early fall are approaching full bloom. Some early blooms may have been damaged by recent low temperatures. Moving forward, growers should remain vigilant in protecting these crops from potential frost injury (Figure 1). Bare-root plants that were planted on white plastic during[Read More…]
Welcome to Spring! Things have begun to green up here at Meigs as we’ve had some warmer weather and plenty of rain. Consequently, this week has been a push to make our first-of-season herbicide and fungicide applications in the orchard. Though we breached 80F a couple times already, our fruit trees and brambles do not[Read More…]
Strawberry Growers: Navigating the Challenges of Neopestalotiopsis Disease If you’re expecting plug plants for your strawberry crops, you’ve likely heard about the emerging threat of Neopestalotiopsis disease. For those unfamiliar, I recommend reading Dr. Phil Brannen’s article, “Dramatic Neopestalotiopsis Disease in Strawberry Tips and Plug Plant Production Nurseries“ from the University of Georgia Extension. Recently,[Read More…]
In a press release on August 6, 2024, EPA announced the emergency suspension of all registrations of DCPA (marketed and sold as Dacthal® herbicide). The full press release can be viewed here: EPA Issues Emergency Order to Stop Use of Pesticide Dacthal to Address Serious Health Risk | US EPA Why did EPA do this?[Read More…]