All posts in Vegetables

Preventative Disease Management in Squash
August 11, 2017 · No comments

When diseases like powdery mildew strike cucurbit crops, they can reduce yields and plant quality. First appearing as pale yellow spots, powdery mildew slowly covers the surface of the plant while producing spores that give the surface a powdery white coating. The University of California offers a few tips for managing the disease. Planting resistant varieties is a good way to help prevent powdery mildew infections. Resistance breeding is a priority for Syngenta, as evidenced...

Dry, Hot Climate Increases Whitefly Populations in Florida
July 28, 2017 · No comments

Warmer temperatures this past winter and spring, accompanied by the recent Florida droughts, created ideal conditions for whiteflies across the southeast. The hot, dry conditions this summer have left some vegetable growers with heavy pest pressure. In regions where whiteflies have been identified or are known to invade, Minecto® Pro broad-spectrum, foliar insecticide offers growers another tool to help manage this pest. With two complementary modes of action, Minecto Pro will control multiple pest populations that...

Now’s Not the Time to Relax About Downy Mildew
July 18, 2017 · No comments

Plenty of heat and rain in southeast Michigan has set the stage for various crop diseases. MSU Extension is reminding growers that this type of weather highlights the importance of preventative fungicide applications, even as it makes maintaining spray schedules difficult. MSU Extension also points out that while cucumber harvest is already underway and reports indicate a good crop, a confirmation of mature downy mildew in Monroe Country suggests now is not the time to...

Choose Resistant Varieties to Reduce Fusarium Wilt in Lettuce
July 7, 2017 · No comments

Fusarium wilt disease of lettuce (FWOL) is a growing threat to lettuce growers’ crops. A soil-borne pathogen, FWOL can ruin crisphead (iceberg) and romaine lettuces, causing plants to collapse, wilt or die. Fusarium wilt causes significant economic impact across lettuce-growing regions. According to a recent article in Western FarmPress, choosing varieties with some resistance is one way growers can manage this disease. Many other soil borne lettuce diseases are treatable, but Fusarium wilt is not....

If You Aren’t Ready for Downy Mildew, Get Ready
June 28, 2017 · No comments

Downy mildew has been reported in southern Ontario and MSU Extension is letting growers know that if they haven’t already, it’s time to prepare for the disease. Caused by Oomycete parasites, downy mildew gets its name from the fluffy sporulation that usually appears on the bottom of infected leaves as the pathogen completes its disease cycle. The spores can germinate and spread the disease to healthy plant tissues. The initial symptoms are chlorotic lesions, which...

Florida Crops Battle Insects
June 14, 2017 · No comments

While the Florida weather is inviting to tourists, it’s also inviting to insect pests. Sucking and chewing pests are likely to greet the state’s growers as they monitor their vegetable and citrus crops. Careful monitoring and proper identification may be the most effective ways to prevent costly quality and yield losses. When pests reach threshold levels, we suggest applying an insecticide like Minecto® Pro to minimize the impact of a wide range of lepidopteran and...

Managing Fungi and Disease can be the Key to Healthy Vegetable Crops
June 14, 2017 · No comments

Managing fungi and diseases across vegetable crops is a continuous challenge. Blights, mildews and molds are especially destructive to leaf tissue and crop quality and are common in the Western region. Broccoli, cauliflower and other vegetables are susceptible to downy mildew. Late blight hosts include tomatoes and potatoes and cause lesions on leaves and stems that expand and become darker in color. Spores may be observed on the leaves and stems, as well. Affected fruit...

Manage Disease to Help Produce Tomato Fruit
June 14, 2017 · No comments

Diseases like powdery mildew and black mold impact tomato crops by destroying leaf tissue and reducing energy that could otherwise be used in fruit development. In addition, the loss of foliage leaves fruit more susceptible to sun damage. Fungicide applications can help control disease and can be applied preventatively or early on in the infection. According to University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, tomato crops can have black mold 4 to 5 days after...

Keep Flea Beetles, Stink Bugs, Other Insects out of CA Tomatoes
June 13, 2017 · No comments

Recognizing which pests tomatoes are most vulnerable to at each stage of plant development is extremely important. Seedling tomatoes are especially vulnerable to flea beetles, while stink bugs do most of their damage to fruit. Lepidopteran pests can defoliate and interfere with photosynthesis. Flea beetles are common pests in tomato crops. Most damage occurs in fields previously planted with tomatoes, so it is best to rotate with a nonhost crop. Flea beetles typically appear at...