Did you know that almost half of the food we consume every day comes from crops the USDA categorizes as “minor” or “specialty” crops? Compared to the acreage of corn and soybean in the Midwest, fruit and vegetable crops are only a small percentage of crops grown. Not surprisingly, agrochemical companies focus their effort on…Read more about The IR-4 Project and Indiana Growers[Read More]
Crop Management
The USDA Coronavirus Assistance Program (CFAP) is accepting applications up until tomorrow (Sept. 11). These should be made by contacting a USDA-FSA office. Producers of specialty crops are eligible for CFAP payments for losses for the following three categories: Had crops that suffered a five percent-or-greater reduction in sales price between mid-January and mid-April as…Read more about Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for Specialty Crops[Read More]
Grape harvest continues. Recent rainy weather is making late season fruit rots more problematic on susceptible varieties. Apples are sizing up nicely and mid-season varieties are beginning to ripen. Primocane black and red raspberries are beginning to ripen. Black Magic primocane blackberry harvest is winding down and APF45 harvest is just starting. Pawpaw fruit are…Read more about Crop Conditions[Read More]
Modern clonal rootstocks are the foundation-and literal roots– to modern apple growing. These rootstocks ensure growers have orchards of relatively small trees that can be densely planted and result in earlier and greater bearing than what was historically possible. This is an obvious improvement over waiting multiple decades for an orchard to become profitable. However,…Read more about Rootstock problems are neither new nor unique…” Cummings and Norton, 1974[Read More]
This video guides you for a tour of strawberry production in high tunnels in Indiana. Additional videos addressing specific production practices will be available in the future. Please stay tuned for the update of plasticulture strawberry research from Purdue.
Strawberries are primarily grown in matted row system in Indiana, in which bare-root strawberry plants are set in the spring. Runners are established. Fruit is first harvested in the second year and plantings are renovated each year for 2-3 seasons. Growers in the southern part of the state expressed interest in growing strawberries in plasticulture…Read more about Using low tunnel is promising to increase yield of annual plasticulture strawberry production[Read More]
Plant nutritional status is important for all phases of plant growth and has a direct effect on vigor, fruitfulness, cold hardiness, and other factors. Tissue analysis is the most reliable means of determining plant nutritional status. Combined with soil testing, tissue analysis can help pinpoint the source of problems and determine what measures may be…Read more about Tissue analysis for grapes and small fruit[Read More]
By now, most harvest is over across the state. As soon as harvest is done, it’s time to begin the renovation process. Matted row strawberry plantings must be renovated each year to establish new crowns for the following year’s crop. For best results, renovation should be started immediately after the harvest is completed to promote…Read more about Matted row strawberry renovation[Read More]
Due to the COVID crisis, most Purdue Extension meetings will be held virtually. Most Purdue Extension staff are working from home and are available to answer your questions by email, phone or through social media. Our contact information is at the end of the newsletter. July 30, 2020 Small Farm Education Field Day and Webinar…Read more about Extension Events[Read More]
Apples are 1-1/2 inch to 2 inch size where you can find them. There is plenty of scarring on fruit from the freeze. Apple scab is also common in unsprayed blocks. Pawpaw fruit are sizing and Phyllostica leaf spot is showing up. Grapes are at cluster close/berry touch so berries should no longer be susceptible…Read more about Crop Conditions[Read More]