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In addition to frost protection, disease management is pivotal during the blooming stage, particularly concerning gray mold (caused by Botrytis spp.) and Anthracnose. To protect the fruit, fungicide application should commence at or even before blooming. The pressure of both diseases is heavily influenced by weather conditions, with Botrytis favoring wet and cool climates and…Read more about Strawberry Disease Management Considerations at Blooming and Fruiting[Read More]


This article was written on April 17. Harvesting of high tunnel-grown strawberries has started from southern to central Indiana. Early cultivars in open-field plasticulture are fruiting in southern Indiana, with harvest right around the corner. The crops are generally a week earlier than last year. Late cultivars, second-year patches, and fields covered with straw in…Read more about Strawberry Crop Status Update[Read More]



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]


All that new, succulent growth needs to be protected to prevent primary (and even secondary!) scab (Fig. 1). We’re past the point where copper can be safely used, so protectant fungicides for scab control at this stage include mancozeb, ziram and captan. As an added bonus, all of these protect against the summer rots, and…Read more about Apple Disease Management Notes for April[Read More]


Something exciting happened this past Monday that many of you might be glad is over and no longer filling your news feed – the total solar eclipse.  The Indiana State Climate Office, however, is now getting a chance to dig into the data collected from the Purdue Mesonet – a collection of 14 weather stations…Read more about Weather impacts from eclipse[Read More]


The Two-spotted lady beetle, Adalia bipunctata, is a common insect predator, meaning it feeds on other, smaller bugs. Native to North America and Europe, the Two-spotted lady beetle is distinguished from other lady beetles by its oblong shape and two large black spots on either of its back, as well as its large white spots…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Two-spotted lady beetle[Read More]


Happy spring everyone, and I hope you’re all looking forward to another productive growing season in the Hoosier Heartland! As I did last year, I’d like to invite our readers to suggest, or vote for, insect-related topics that you’d like to learn more about this year! I did receive a few helpful topics last year,…Read more about Request (or vote!) for a fruit-insect topic you’d like to see in Facts for Fancy Fruit in 2024[Read More]



Overwintering strawberries in high tunnels can jumpstart plant growth in the spring and protect developing flowers from frost damage and disease. However, this protected environment is also ideal for some pests, like spider mites and aphids, that can successfully overwinter and build their populations. We conducted an experiment on ‘Chandler’ strawberry where it was grown…Read more about Overwintering insects on high tunnel strawberry and impacts on yield[Read More]


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Page last modified: April 25, 2024

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