Indiana has been very dry the last several weeks (Figure 1) and conditions are starting to show in lawns and fields. This dryness has been exacerbated by low humidity and warmer temperatures (Figure 2). After a nice respite this past weekend, temperatures will start rising again into the weekend, but may not seem too uncomfortable[Read More…]
Canopy management is a critical production practice for improved sunlight exposure. Pulling shoots off the top of the rows in high cordon-trained vines improves sunlight exposure to the leaves at the base of the shoots. Those basal nodes will be the ones saved as spurs next year during pruning, and sunlight improves bud fruitfulness and[Read More…]
The North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association (NARBA) is conducting a survey of growers’ raspberry & blackberry pricing and what they are doing for COVID-19 in relation to their marketing this year. NARBA urges producers of all sizes and in all regions to participate, whether or not they have started harvesting. Growers who have not[Read More…]
Strawberries have rich flavor; sugar, acid, phenolic content, and aroma all together make the wonderful fruit. Many factors are assumed to affect strawberry flavor. Some are supported by scientific evidence, some may be simply people’s impressions. In this article, we discuss some of the factors that are more likely to affect strawberry flavor. Locally grown[Read More…]
Dicamba has been in the headlines the last two weeks. In case you’ve missed it, here are the highlights: On June 3 the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency and its 2018 registration of over-the-top dicamba products Xtend, Engenia, and FeXapan and vacated their registrations. The[Read More…]
Warm, wet weather has led to an uptick in bacterial shot hole disease, caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (XAP). We started to see a significant uptick in shot hole on peaches, nectarine and plum before conditions turned dry. Leaves and fruit susceptibility to XAP infection decreases after pit hardening (if you were[Read More…]
Aphids have been a particularly challenging pest to get under control in our high tunnel strawberries this year. They quickly colonized the strawberries we had growing all winter and took off as the weather warmed (Fig. 1). In my first attempt to knock them back I introduced 2,000 lacewing larvae (22-Apr), too little too late.[Read More…]
Due to the COVID crisis, all Purdue Extension meetings have been cancelled through June. After July 1, in-person meetings may be held and will follow state and local guidelines. Most Purdue Extension staff are working from home and we are available to answer your questions by email, phone or through social media. Our contact information[Read More…]
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