Vegetable Crop Quality

Register Now for the 2025 Northern Ohio Vegetable Grower Winter Meeting

OSU Extension is pleased to announce the 2025 Northern Ohio Vegetable Grower Winter Meeting will take place on March 4th, 2025.This program will provide opportunities to learn from and engage with OSU Extension specialists on various topics in vegetable production. The educational sessions include topics on crop protection against vegetable pests (insects, diseases, weeds), high tunnel management, safeguarding water quality, and more. Take part in this educational opportunity to help equip you with the knowledge you need to help improve vegetable production on your farm.

AGENDA:

9:00: Welcome/Weed Control in Sweet Corn & Pumpkins

Chris Galbraith, OSU/MSU Extension

9:35: What’s New in High Tunnel Production and Potato Varieties

Matt Kleinhenz, OSU

10:20: Break

10:30: Soilborne Disease Management in Tomatoes

Andres Sanabria Velazquez, OSU

11:00: Preserving Water Quality in the Western Lake Erie Basin

Jocelyn Ruble, OSU Extension

11:30: Cover Crops for Weed Control in Vegetables

Ram Yadav, OSU

12:00: Lunch

12:45: Pepper Insect Pest Control/IPPM in Cucurbits

Ashley Leach, OSU

1:30: Vegetable Diseases of 2024: Diagnostic Lab Recap

Francesca Rotundo, OSU

2:00: Use of Spray Drones in Vegetable Production: Challenges & Opportunities

Erdal Ozkan, OSU

2:30: Evaluations/Credits

 

The program will run from 9:00am-2:30pm, with check-in beginning at 8:30am. Registering online prior to the event is required to ensure there is room. The event will take place at The Neeley Center at Terra State Community College (2830 Napoleon Rd, Fremont, OH 43420).

This event is free and will include a catered lunch. This event is worth 3 ODA credits for Commercial category 2B (category 3 for Private) and 0.5 credit for Commercial category 1. Vegetable growers won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn from and connect with fellow growers, extension staff, and other individuals working within the vegetable industry.

Visit the link below to register for this event:

Go.osu.edu/nwveg 

Please reach out to Chris Galbraith at galbraith.108@osu.edu or 734-240-3178 with any questions.

 

 

Expand your knowledge of vegetable production at the 2024 Great Lakes Expo

This article was originally posted on Michigan State University Extension News.
Decorative image.

The Great Lakes Expo (GLEXPO) is the premier fruit, vegetable and farm market expo in the Midwest. This annual event features educational sessions on important industry topics, a large trade show for networking and discovery, and other specialized workshops and meetings. This convention has been held annually since 2001 and has been a consistent favorite among growers and other ag professionals across the country.

Each year the event features a robust agenda of vegetable programming organized by Michigan State University Extension. The educational presentations cover a wide range of crops, offering something for everybody when it comes to learning about new developments in the vegetable industry. Many of the sessions are also worth Michigan and Ohio restricted use pesticide (RUP) credits and certified crop advisor (CCA) credits in various categories.

The event will be held at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan from Dec. 10-12, 2024. 

The following is further information on the vegetable sessions offered at the Expo this year. These are highlights for vegetable producers and is by no means the complete program. Many other educational sessions centered on fruit, greenhouse production, farm-marketing and other areas of specialty crop production will be offered as well. To view the full agenda and to find more information, please visit the GLEXPO website.

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Pickles and Vine Crops: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Pest Management in Cucurbits with an Emphasis on Pollinator Protection
Laura Ingwell – Purdue University

Houghtaling Farms: Our Experience Growing Cucumbers and Pumpkins. Challenges and our Strategies
Mike Houghtaling – Houghtaling Farms

Trends from the Vine Crop Seed World
Dana Hilfinger – Johnny’s Selected Seeds

Downy Mildew Update
Mary Hausbeck – Michigan State University

 

Asparagus: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Asparagus Beetle Management
Zsofia Szendrei – Michigan State University

Purple Spot Update
John Spafford – Michigan State University
Mary Hausbeck – Michigan State University

Irrigation and Calcium Interactions in Asparagus
Zack Hayden – Michigan State University

Progress Towards Predicting Asparagus Emergence
Dan Brainard – Michigan State University

 

Brassicas: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Tips and Tricks for Summer Harvested Broccoli and Cauliflower
Ben Phillips – Michigan State University Extension

Diversifying Weed Management Strategies for Improving Weed Control in Cole Crops
Thierry Besancon – Rutgers University

Lessons Learned Growing Cauliflower, Broccoli, and Baby Kale on a Commercial Scale
Jon Dinsmore – Dinsmore Farms, Inc.

Managing Insect Pests in Brassica Crops
Zsofia Szendrei – Michigan State University

Several heads of cabbage.
Photo by Getty Images

 

Sweet Corn: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Managing Insect Pests in Sweet Corn
Zsofia Szendrei – Michigan State University

Wildlife Management Strategies in Corn
Olivia Smith – Michigan State University

Evaluating Tools to Manage Sweet Corn Tar Spot in Central Wisconsin
Amanda Gevens – University of Wisconsin-Madison

Sweet Corn Weed Control Begins With the Weeds
Mark VanGessel – University of Delaware

 

Root Crops: 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.

Root Crop Weed Control Roundtable
Katrina Becker – Cattail Organics
Wendy Zhang – Kejay Farms
Sam Oschwald Tilton – Glacial Drift Enterprises

A Primer on Aster Yellows and Testing in 2024
Jan Byrne – Michigan State University

Researching Root Lesion Nematodes in Carrots and More
Marisol Quintanilla-Tornel – Michigan State University
Lance Fosberg – Michigan State University

Getting the Most from your Carrots Through Beneficial Root-microbial Relationships
Lori Hoagland – Purdue University

A cluster of carrots freshly pulled up from the ground covered in soil.
Photo by Getty Images.

 

Soil Health and Cover Cropping: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Promoting Beneficial Microbes with Biocontrol Capabilities in Tomato Cropping Systems
Lori Hoagland – Purdue University

Managing Nematodes with Soil Amendments in Vegetable and Fruit Crops
Marisol Quintanilla – Michigan State University

Soil Health Strategies at Providence Organic Farm
Ryan Romeyn – Providence Organic Farm

Cover Crops for Weed Control and Other Goals
Katrina (Kat) Becker – Cattail Organics

 

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Mushrooms: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

How We Do It: Wild Foraging
Aaron Grenchik – Great Lakes Treats

How We Do It: Outdoor Production
Rich Leep – Leep Mushrooms

How We Do It: Indoor Production
Chris Swinson – Mycophile’s Garden

How We Do It: Marketing
Jill Grenchik – Great Lakes Treats
Rich Leep – Leep Mushrooms
Chris Swinson – Mycophile’s Garden

 

Onion: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Stemphylium Update
Mary Hausbeck – Michigan State University

Onion Weed Control and IPM – An Ontario Perspective
Wendy Zhang – Kejay Farms

New Onion Weeds and their Seeds
Dan Brainard – Michigan State University
Jordan Hoekstra – Vriesland Growers Cooperative, Inc

Onion Thrips Research Update
Zsofia Szendrei – Michigan State University

 

Tomato Pepper Eggplant: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Soil-biodegradable Plastic Mulch: Should you Make the Switch?
Shuresh Ghimire – University of Connecticut

The Secret Sauce: How We Add Value to Chili’s in a Northern Climate
Nate Mehren – Fat Baby Hot Sauce

Innovative Bed Designs for Tomato Production: Analyzing Soil Fumigation and Irrigation Patterns
Emmanuel Torres Quezada – North Carolina State University

How We Do It: Grafting, Steaming, and Soil Disinfestation
Ernest Zimmerman
Terry Zimmerman

Several different varieties and colored tomatoes, some are whole and some are cut in half.
Photo by Getty Images

 

Organic Vegetable Management: 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Systems of Machinery for Any Scale, with a Focus On Controlling Weeds
Sam Oschwald Tilton – Glacial Drift Enterprises, LLC

Your First Date with the Soil-making Good Observations and Soil Testing
Vicki Morrone – Michigan State University

Pest Management in Protected Culture With Emphasis on Biological Control
Laura Ingwell – Purdue University

Organic Meet and Greet
Julie Studier – Tower Hill Farm
Ryan Romeyn – Providence Farm
Katie Brandt – Michigan State University

 

Potato: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Potato Insect and Pest Management for Market Growers
Ray Rantz – Michigan State University
Zsofia Szendrei – Michigan State University

Potato Disease Management for Market Producers
Jaime Willbur – Michigan State University

Irrigation Management and Efficiency in Potato Systems
Younsuk Dong – Michigan State University
Lyndon Kelley – Michigan State University & Purdue University

Nematodes in Potato Systems – Is Compost a Solution?
Marisol Quintanilla – Michigan State University

 

Celery: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Carrot Weevil Control
Elizabeth Long – Purdue University

Update on Celery Meltdown Research
Douglas Minier – Michigan State University
Mary Hausbeck – Michigan State University

Primer on Aster Yellows and Leafhopper Testing in 2024
Jan Byrne – MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostics

–

Registration is open now. Make a plan to attend GLEXPO this year to learn and connect with fellow vegetable growers, university and extension staff and other ag service providers from all around the country. You never know what new ideas or opportunities you will find at the annual Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo.

Foliar Feeding of Vegetable Crops: An Overview of Why, Why Not, and What to Consider

The number of vegetable growers who are either curious about foliar feeding or using the practice routinely has risen in recent years. Foliar feeding has become a major component of the crop management plans of some vegetable growers while other people are concerned that too many growers rely too heavily on the practice. Let’s review some basic information specific to the process to improve decision-making about it.

1. It is true that plants can absorb nutrients through their leaves. However, it is also true that absorption differs with leaf age and condition, among individual nutrients, and based on other factors. Overall, young leaves tend to take-in nutrients more readily than older ones but are also more easily damaged by caustic solutions. Also, while micronutrients are absorbed at higher rates than macronutrients, micronutrients are present at sufficient levels in most complete soil-applied fertilizers or can be added to them effectively. Similarly, nutrients must reach specific locations in the plant regardless of where they enter it and may be less likely to do so at needed levels after entering through leaves instead of roots. Finally, nutrients entering through leaves and moving within the plant does not guarantee that the application will affect it in ways increasing profit. So, consider the following when asking what role, if any, foliar feeding will have in your comprehensive nutrient management plan: a) relative need for various nutrients, and b) nutrient absorption/uptake rates, mobility, effects once in the plant based on where they enter, and availability in different fertilizers.

2. Proponents of foliar feeding mention that it can: a) be highly tailored, b) bypass soil-based issues, c) lessen the potential for leaching or other losses, and d) create quick responses that may boost crop quality and/or reduce or help plants recover from stress. However, it is also important to consider major concerns with foliar feeding as a primary, routine practice, including how it: a) can damage leaves and fruits, create nutrient imbalances, facilitate the onset and/or progression of foliar disease, and contribute to runoff, b) usually has only short-term effects (requiring repeated use), c) should be done during specific environmental conditions which may not occur during large portions of the season, and d) requires great care to balance risks/rewards and costs.

Therefore, on balance, it is best to:
1. Consider “foliar feeding” as a supplement to, NOT a replacement for a comprehensive nutrient management program in which nearly all fertilizer is applied to the root zone. Strengthening root zone-based delivery programs will address the clear majority of nutrient management questions and challenges. Focus on specific and unique situations in which foliar applications MAY be useful instead of utilizing them as a rule or standard practice.

2. Be clear about the challenges associated with foliar feeding as a routine practice and experiment with it carefully. Select the key crop and crop stage and use the right material, at the right rate, and at the right time (under the required conditions), being sure to check solution chemistry and monitor crop condition.

For Additional Reading:

https://ipm.missouri.edu/mpg/2019/4/foliarFeeding/

https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/foliar-feeding.pdf

https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/blog/aaron-saeugling/foliar-feed-or-not

Blotchy Ripening of Tomato Fruit: Description, Contributing Factors, and Prevention

Marketable yield is more important than total yield. Physiological disorders like ‘blotchy ripening’ typically do not affect total yield but do reduce marketable yield, which reduces income and profit potential.

Description
Blotchy ripening refers to one or more conditions specific to the external and/or internal color of tomato fruit. Ideally, the skin and flesh color of mature tomato fruit are uniform throughout, with red being most common. Fruit exhibiting blotchy ripening have discolored sections. For example, defected fruits are mostly red on the outside but contain areas that are green, yellow, gray, or paler red than the remainder of the fruit, such as shown in the picture. Blemished areas may be more common on the half of the fruit nearest the stem. The flesh, especially vasculature, of fruit exhibiting blotchy ripening may be brown or broken down.

Symptoms associated with blotchy ripening have underlying physiological, or disease or insect feeding causes. Symptoms can be mild and in only a small number of fruit or severe and/or in many fruit. Regardless, it is important to note that fruit are said to exhibit blotchy ripening only when they are also in the mid-late stages of ripening as determined by changes in firmness and other variables and when insect (e.g., whitefly) and disease (e.g., TMV) are ruled out as causal agents. These two criteria separate truly ‘blotchy’ ripened fruit from firm, immature fruit in the early stages of ripening (which can be mottled in color inside and out) and fruit damaged by the action of pathogens and/or insects. Blotchy ripening is a physiological disorder.

Blotchy ripening has been discussed as a potentially significant marketable yield issue in research and extension publications for nearly ninety years. Seaton and Gray of the Michigan Agricultural Research Station reported on their analysis of the anatomy of blotchy-ripened fruit in 1936. Also, after touring commercial and research farms throughout the U.S., Minges and Sadik of Cornell University published a protocol for evaluating blotchy ripening in 1964 (https://journals.flvc.org/fshs/article/view/100632/96587). These landmark works provided much needed insight on blotchy ripening, and they were followed by other steps that helped identify factors that contribute to the disorder.

Contributing Factors and Prevention

1. Genetics
Immature tomato fruit are green and photosynthetic. Later however, the set of pigments found in fruit of most hybrids shifts and red becomes the dominant color.

This shift is pre-programmed but influenced by conditions surrounding the fruit and within the plant and soil. The first and one of the most reliable steps in minimizing blotchy ripening is selecting varieties known to display it very infrequently – i.e., among few crops year to year and among few fruit within a season.

Hybrid tomato varieties are the culmination of huge, coordinated efforts requiring in-depth knowledge of tomato genes. Nearly 100 years ago, these genes were found to include a natural mutation that led individual fruit to ripen uniformly red, today’s most common standard. Decades of development of varieties whose fruit turn red over their entire surface and throughout their flesh at precisely the right time relative to other variables related to market-readiness have followed. However, the natural condition of NON-uniform reddening remains in the tomato genome and it shows itself most readily in certain varieties. As a category, heirloom varieties may display the blotchy ripening disorder most consistently. As an early step in avoiding blotchy ripening, consult reliable reports on variety performance in your area and select varieties that exhibit the problem rarely, if at all.

2. Environmental Conditions, including Air Temperature, Soil Status, and Nutrient Levels

A variety’s genes may predispose it to physiological disorders like blotchy ripening but this weakness can be minimized or masked with luck and proper management. Factors contributing to the development of physiological disorders like blotchy ripening can be difficult or take a long time to determine because they are difficult to induce experimentally. That said, research and experience have shown that blotchy ripening is most prevalent when air temperatures during mid-late stages of fruit ripening are extreme (e.g., below 60 deg F and/or above 90 deg F) or highly variable, when humidity levels remain high, and/or when these conditions are common and light levels are low. Low soil quality and high salinity are also associated with the occurrence of blotchy ripening.

Most also agree that severe cases of blotchy ripening are most often associated with factors that limit the supply of potassium (especially) and to a lesser extent, magnesium, to maturing fruit. These factors include: waterlogged and/or compacted soils, below-optimal potassium or magnesium application rates, above-optimal nitrogen application rates, excessive application of potassium and magnesium competitors, excessively large or dense canopies, and the environmental conditions mentioned previously.

Potassium supplies may be restricted for different reasons. So, do not over-compensate when evaluating and adjusting irrigation and nutrient management practices. Articles written by Gordon Johnson (University of Delaware), Jerry Brust (University of Maryland), and others are excellent overviews of blotchy ripening and its management. All point to limiting blotchy ripening and similar disorders through careful nutrient and water management, considering soil, plant, and fruit factors in the process.

Limiting the Occurrence and Severity of Blotchy Ripening in Tomato
A. Select resistant varieties.

B. Minimize large temperature swings and extreme high temperatures during fruit development and ripening.

C. Ensure adequate and balanced nutrient levels, paying special attention to potassium and magnesium and their competitors or factors that limit their availability.

D. Maintain consistent and appropriate soil moisture levels.

E. Maintain or improve biological, chemical, and physical characteristics of soils allowing them to support maximum root and plant health.

Prune Fresh Market Tomatoes (field, high tunnel): Yes or No?

Growers and others continue to discuss and ask questions about the pros and cons of pruning fresh market tomato plants in field and high tunnel plantings. Some growers expect to prune and plan for the process while others decide long before planting that they will not prune. For others, the decision is less clear. Regardless, genetic, market, and other factors affect the decision.

Major Factors Affecting the Decision to Prune
1. Variety type (determinate, semi-determinate, indeterminate). Overall, determinate varieties require the least amount of pruning and indeterminate varieties the greatest amount with semi-determinate varieties potentially benefitting from a moderate amount. Whether grafted plants are used, and the effects of the rootstock can also influence if the grower may benefit from pruning them.
2. Variety-specific characteristics. Varieties within each major type differ in how they respond to pruning. Consult reliable sources and use experience to determine if and how much each variety being grown should be pruned.
3. Market price and expectations. Typical market prices and expectations of fruit quality may steer growers to prune or to not prune individual varieties and/or plantings.
4. Pruning process requirements (e.g., time, cost, expertise, materials). Pruning is recommended for some varieties and in some situations. However, if pruning is done incorrectly (wrong time, wrong method), it can result in undesirable outcomes.

Potential benefits and drawbacks associated with pruning field- or high tunnel-grown fresh market tomato plants.

Potential Benefits
• Can enhance earliness
• Can increase fruit quality (e.g., size, shape)
• Can reduce some disease pressure
• Can enhance coverage of protective sprays
Potential Drawbacks
• Adds cost (time, labor) and requires care
• Can spread disease
• Can reduce fruit quality
• Timing is key (crop stage and when foliage is dry)

Fresh market tomato plantings in Ohio differ significantly in size, market, growing environment (field, high tunnel), production system (e.g., organic, not organic), varieties used, and other characteristics. A small-scale test comparing pruned and unpruned plots will help reveal if your current approach is ideal.

For More Information

1. http://www.hort.cornell.edu/expo/proceedings/2015/high-tunnels/BMPs%20Proper%20pruning%20and%20training.pdf
2. http://www.hort.cornell.edu/expo/proceedings/2017/HighTunnel.cherrytomatopruning.ivy.17.pdf
3. https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1312&title=commercial-tomato-production-handbook
4. https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/print-publications/hla/commercial-production-of-fresh-market-tomatoes-hla-6019.pdf
5. https://mwveguide.org/uploads/pdfs/2024-MW-Veg-Guide-full-draft-20231219.pdf
6. https://www.vegetables.bayer.com/au/en-au/resources/growing-tips/agronomic-spotlights/fresh-market-tomato-pruning.html

High Tunnel Crop and Market Period Diversity

High tunnel use is very popular and has been increasing in Ohio and many other states for decades. Growers are now asking new questions partly because high tunnel production is so popular and increasing and has been practiced for so long on some farms, creating new challenges and opportunities.

“How can I utilize my high tunnel(s) more effectively year-round or fall through spring?” is one very frequently asked question. Many agree that spring-fall tomato harvests can offer the greatest revenue or profit potential. However, others have shown or are learning that harvesting other crops from their high tunnel(s) during summer and/or fall through spring can also be lucrative and beneficial in other ways. Many examples of this have been shared in recent Extension and other programs in Ohio and neighboring states. Working with multiple crops across more of or the entire year requires being familiar with conditions affecting their growth, quality, and potential costs of production and market (profit) potential. Labor and other input costs and how one figures costs of production are obvious factors. For example, one grower-speaker at a recent conference recently described high tunnel space on their farm as “rented,” meaning that their costs of production include how much time is required for a crop to be market-ready. This approach (calculation) directs them and, possibly, others: a) to include lower-cost, quicker-cycling, high value crops in their systems, and b) to be selective when devoting space to high value crops demanding more space, time, and labor. For some, producing multiple crops, managing their investments in crops prone to boom-bust supply-price cycles, and accessing markets through most of or the entire is key to their business. They describe how the approach can limit risk and increase opportunity.

As described in our Feb-3 VegNet article, we seeded Mokum carrot, Red Russian kale, Oriole Swiss chard, Red Pac pac choi, and Music garlic in early Oct-2023 and have given them “minimal” care since that time. Our goal was to discover/demonstrate the potential yield and quality of these crops when grown and overwintered in this way, although the kale, Swiss chard, and pac choi were appropriate for some markets in December-January. This approach may interest growers unfamiliar with and/or currently lacking the ability to make large investments in fall through spring production-harvesting. Recent samples taken from the carrot seedings demonstrate that growth is accelerating and roots are likely to be market-ready soon. A large number of other edible and non-edible crops can be overwintered and/or harvested successfully fall-through spring in Ohio.

Please contact Matt Kleinhenz (330.263.3810; kleinhenz.1@osu.edu) for more information.

 

OSU Extension Bi-Weekly Fruit & Vegetable Report – October 17th, 2023

The OSU Extension Fruit & Vegetable Report is written/published collectively by OSU Extension staff across the state. 

Biological Soil Health

When it comes to supporting healthy soils, the physical and chemical aspects of soil quality are often highlighted. However, the importance of biological activity and diversity, and how it influences soil structure and chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, etc.), is becoming increasingly appreciated in modern farming. As we discover more about the different microbe-microbe and microbe-plant interactions unfolding in the soil habitat, we can create better farming practices that optimize crop health and soil quality.

Three areas of soil health: physical, chemical, and biological. Image courtesy of University of Massachusetts. 

The source of and final destination of all soil life is soil organic matter (SOM). SOM consists of biological material in the soil, derived from plants, fungi, animals, and other organisms, that are in various stages of decomposition. Certain forms of SOM break down quickly and provide nutrients for crop use, others are more stable (i.e. inaccessible to microbial decay) and contribute to aggregate stability and tilth. A SOM content of 5% in mineral soils is considered high; in muck soils, SOM can be as high as 80%. Conservation ag practices like reduced tillage and cover cropping are used to support high levels of SOM for improved nutrient cycling, soil structure, and cation exchange capacity. 

The food webs that produce SOM are characterized by an astonishing diversity of soil life made up of bacteria, fungi, archaea, nematodes, protozoa, and other microfauna, as well as the larger organisms like springtails and earthworms higher up the food chain. These organisms not only drive nutrient cycling through consuming and contributing to SOM, but can influence crop health through more specialized relationships. Plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria that interact with plant roots can boost crop productivity by producing hormones, fixing atmospheric N, solubilizing P for increased availability, and inducing plant resistance to pathogens. The growing biologicals industry (biopesticides, biofertilizers, and biostimulants) is based on the premise that certain organisms benefit crop health through either direct interactions or interactions with other soil life. 

Keeping in mind how soil biodiversity and activity affect soil health through the lens of SOM and interactions between organisms can help us make decisions that support crops by maintaining a thriving, balanced soil habitat.

Examples of soil organisms at different scales – Microfauna: Azospirillium soil bacteria (top), Mesofauna: tardigrade (middle), Macrofauna: earthworm (bottom). Photos courtesy of Science Source (top), National Geographic (middle), Dan Brekke – Flickr (bottom).

Crop Updates

Vegetables

Cucurbits

Plectosporium leaf blight is being detected. Continue to watch for aphids, cucumber beetles and squash bugs. Significant damage was detected within the last week in harvested pumpkins due to large populations of cucumber beetles. Aphids can still be found in green foliage, and may be spotted via large accumulations of honey dew beneath healthy foliage.

Cucumber beetles feeding on harvested pumpkins. Photo by Frank Becker, OSU Extension.

Cole Crops

Alternaria leaf spot is being observed in brassicas. This pathogen is supported by warm, wet conditions. Cultural practices for reducing alternaria pressure include increasing crop spacing for improved airflow, crop rotation, tilling under crop residue after harvest and controlling brassica weeds (shepherd’s purse, wild mustard, wild radish, yellow rocket, etc.)  to decrease disease inoculum. Treating seed with hot water prior to planting may also help  to decrease prevalence of this seed-borne pathogen. Consult the Midwest Vegetable Guide for fungicide options in Brassicas.

Tomatoes/Peppers

Hoop house tomatoes are nearing the end. Powdery mildew, bacterial diseases, aphids, and other pests are all being observed under plastic. Late blight and early blight are prevalent in remaining field tomatoes. 

Anthracnose is continuing to be an issue on peppers and tomatoes. Infested fruits rapidly decline in quality and are unmarketable. Lesions are typically observed as sunken, round lesions on the fruit. At times you may also be able to see the salmon colored spores within the lesion on the fruit. 

Anthracnose on peppers. Photo by Frank Becker, OSU Extension. 

Fruit

Many orchards are nearing completion of harvest and pest monitoring traps are being taken down for the season. As tree fruits are harvested and leaves begin to fall, it may be a good opportunity to take a closer look at your trees and scout the trunk and branches for presence or evidence of insect pests such as scale and borers. Scouting for these pests now can help you make adjustments to your integrated pest management program.

October Small Fruit Updates

Dr. Gary Gao, Professor and Small Fruit Specialist, CFAES South Centers. The Ohio State University

Update on Long Cane Raspberry Project:

We are only getting a few straggling raspberries from our long cane raspberry trial at OSU South Centers in Piketon during the week of October 6, 2023. There were only enough for Gary to snack on. Pictured in the first photo is Kweli®. As you can tell from the picture, fruit color is still looking quite nice. Kweli® is an everbearing variety that is capable of producing two crops inside a high tunnel and out in the open field. Follow this link for more information on the variety: https://www.abbreeding.nl/varieties/kweli/?lang=en

We are still fine-tuning the method of growing long cane Kweli®. We just wrapped up our 2021-2023 Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) funded by Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). There is a lot more to learn about this highly innovative production method. Fortunately, we received another SCBG from ODA to do just that!

Kweli® fruits. Photo by Dr. Gary Gao, The Ohio State University.

Gary was able to find several Tulameen raspberries from our long cane raspberry trial plot. This is definitely too late for the Tulameen harvest since it is a summer-bearing variety which does not produce fruits on primocanes. It was still neat to check them out. Earlier in the season, we harvested a lot of beautiful Tulameen fruits. Some of our grower cooperators were able to sell them for $9 per pint in a Columbus farmer’s market. Raspberry bushes in a long cane production system can produce 22,000 lbs. per acre! Tulameen is well suited for long cane raspberry production and is well known for its large fruit size and excellent taste! Follow this link – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292928034_’Tulameen’_red_raspberry – for more information on Tulameen variety.

Tulameen fruits picked in October from our long cane raspberry trial. Photo by Dr. Gary Gao, The Ohio State University.

Late Leaf Rust on Raspberries:

Gary noticed that some of the raspberry bushes in their raspberry trial had late leaf rust. Late leaf rust on raspberry is a fungal disease. Follow link – https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/plpath-fru-17#:~:text=Late%20leaf%20rust%20is%20caused,rust%20fungus%20is%20not%20systemic. -for more information on symptoms and management of this disease. Do not confuse this disease with orange rust of brambles. Fortunately, red raspberries are resistant to orange rust.

Late leaf rust on raspberries. Photo by Dr. Gary Gao, The Ohio State University.

Fall is for Figs in Ohio!

Even though fall is typically for apples, mums, and pumpkins, it is also for figs – well hardy figs for that matter. Gary has been picking hardy figs from their fig planting at OSU South Centers in Piketon from early September to now. The figs will keep ripening until frost. A high tunnel will extend the harvest season.  Our figs were from another Ohio Specialty Crop Block Grant funded by ODA a few years ago. The varieties in our trial are Brown Turkey, Hardy Chicago, and Olympian. Brown Turkey and Chicago Hardy performed the best in our trial. Follow this link https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1439 for more information.

OSU hardy fig trial. Photo by Dr. Gary Gao, The Ohio State University.

Brown Turkey figs from the hardy fig trial at OSU South Centers in Piketon. Photo by Dr. Gary Gao, The Ohio State University.

Berry Production Workshops Presented by OSU Extension in Medina County

I will be going to Medina County on Friday, October 27 to give two talks, one on blueberries and one on raspberries. Ms. Ashley Kulhanek, the Ag. and Natural Resource Educator, is organizing the program. I will show gardeners and growers how to grow blueberries and raspberries. Please call OSU Extension in Medina County at 330-725-4911 for more information and to RSVP!

–

This is our last bi-weekly report for the 2023 season. Thank you for reading and please feel free to direct any feedback on the report series to Chris Galbraith at galbraith.108@osu.edu.

Upcoming Events

December 5 – 7, Grand Rapids, MI, Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, & Farm Market Expo 

January 15 – 16, Columbus, OH, 2024 Ohio Produce Network

February 15 – 17, Newark, OH, 2024 Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) Conference

 

OSU Extension Bi-Weekly Fruit & Vegetable Report – September 28th, 2023

The OSU Extension Fruit & Vegetable Report is written/published collectively by OSU Extension staff across the state. 

View a recording of the OSU Extension Bi-Weekly Fruit & Vegetable Report updates below:

Strip Tillage

Strip tillage is a form of conservation tillage that attempts to combine the benefits of no-till and conventional tillage by working only the area where the crop will be planted. Leaving residue cover over the majority of the field protects the soil against erosion and helps to build organic matter, improve aggregate stability, and boost other indicators of soil health. Working the soil in the strip zone warms the soil faster and prepares a better seedbed to support plant growth. 

Components of a strip till unit – A) lead coulter for slicing through residue, B) row cleaners for parting residue, C) shank for fracturing and lifting soil, D) berm-building coulters to shape tilled soil into strip, & E) rolling basket for creating level seedbed. Photo courtesy of Orthsman/Unverferth Manufacturing. 

 

Strip-till in sweet corn stubble. Photo by Chris Galbraith, OSU Extension.

While strip till targets the benefits that come with integrating the two systems, there are downsides to consider as well. These mostly involve issues with cover crop and/or residue interference with growing the crop. Vigorous cover crops need to be terminated in a timely fashion and crop development can still be delayed in strip-till if the season begins cold and wet. Pests like slugs and voles can also build-up with the increased residue cover. The cost of the equipment can also be a substantial investment which creates a barrier to entry for many growers.

Many vegetables can be grown in strip tillage systems, including cucurbits, sweet corn, snap beans, potatoes, cole crops, carrots, and more. Recent studies at Michigan State University have found a slight yield increase from strip till in vegetable crops, but many of the issues mentioned can impact this (climate, residue management, pest pressure). It is important to consider the factors that go into making strip till a successful venture in order to make the most of the equipment and the practice.

For additional info on strip till in vegetables, check out this website on strip tillage from the Cornell Small Farms Program. 

Wildlife Control in Fruits & Vegetables

This season has been severe in terms of wildlife damage in specialty crops. Animals like deer, groundhogs, voles, raccoons, and birds have caused major losses on some farms. Dr. Marne Titchnell, wildlife program director for OSU Extension, recently gave an in-depth presentation at Farm Science Review on different wildlife mitigation strategies for growers. The information and slides can be found on her blog through the link below:

Managing and Preventing Damage from Wildlife in Fruits & Vegetables

OSU Extension Center for Cooperatives

Opportunities abound for farms when it comes to teaming up to save money and improve effectiveness through joint purchasing, collaborative marketing, and other similar practices. These types of partnerships between farm businesses is captured by the cooperative or “co-op” model where growers access resources and savings by acting together and making decisions as a group in certain scenarios. The Center for Cooperatives at OSU specializes in these sorts of opportunities and can offer guidance to growers who are interested in leveraging the benefits of organizing for collaborative business purposes.

Find more information at the center’s website. Read more about the topic of collaborative marketing in this recent article on the Center of Cooperatives blog.

Crop updates

Vegetables

Cole Crops

Heavy cross striped cabbageworm and imported cabbageworm feeding is still being observed in some brassica plantings. Aphids have made a late season push in brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli plantings. Cabbage aphids are typically a grayish color, and are often found amongst a waxy, white secretion which covers their body. Reproduction rates of these aphids are highest in temperatures between 50-68F. Scout for these pests on the underside of younger leaves, between leaf layers and on flower buds or seed stalks. It is recommended to treat cabbage when you see 1-2% of plants infested with aphids. There are a number of products that can be used to treat aphids in cabbage including Movento, Sivanto, Assail, Exirel and Beleaf. Prioritize products that have reduced toxicity (e.g., Beleaf) which will conserve natural enemy communities. Refer to the Midwest Vegetable production guide for other options. 

Cabbage aphid infestation. Photo by Frank Becker, OSU Extension. 

Cucurbits

Cucurbits are seeing upticks in a variety of beetles in flowers and fruit. These include corn rootworm species. Spotted cucumber beetles are active. Aphids are also beginning to be found with some more frequency in the fall vine crops. Squash bugs are also active within the crop. Most cucurbits do not have blooms in fields, so pyrethroid and carbamate applications may be applied (e.g., Sevin, Pounce, Capture). Refer to the Midwest Vegetable production guide for other options.

The pumpkin crop has been strong in Ohio this season. Many growers in northwest Ohio were able to manage downy mildew with fungicides. Plectosporium blight has been causing some problems for growers where fungicide spray coverage may not have been as thorough as desired. Most fungicide spray programs being used are adequate to limit impacts from plectosporium blight. Spray penetration into the canopy and coverage across the field is as important as selecting the right product.

Plectosporium blight on pumpkin, identified by light colored lesions on fruit, handles, and vines.  Photos by Frank Becker, OSU Extension.

Fruiting Vegetables 

Late blight has been confirmed in several tomato fields in and around Wayne County. Bacterial diseases have also begun to start, and with cool mornings and heavy dews, it will become increasingly more difficult to manage. 

Several high tunnel producers have reported dealing with broad mites/cyclamen mites in their high tunnel peppers. The mites feed on the fruit while it is still developing and their feeding damage causes the peppers to become russested and misshapen. The leaves may also appear distorted, almost as if they were drifted with herbicides. Keep in mind that these mites are in a different group than two-spotted spider mites. Therefore, it’s important to select control options that are appropriate and effective on this species. Sanitation and crop rotation are also important cultural control measures that need to be taken when dealing with mites in high tunnels.  

Onions 

Although the growing season is behind us for onions, curing is still ongoing, and some growers have reported some challenges with curing. Make sure that you are providing the proper conditions for curing onions. Less than ideal conditions will result in frustrations and losses of product. Ideal conditions are warm, dry, well ventilated areas. Ideal temperature range is between 75-90F. The other factor that contributes to losses while curing is not curing the best graded onions. Curing is not an attempt to bring quality back, only preserve it. Grading hard for only the best onions to be cured will help reduce the chance that rots begin to develop. Take note of any disease or insect issues that you have observed this year and use these notes to help you next year. Onions that may have had heavy thrips loads, or untreated disease infection during the season are not going to hold up as well as desired during the curing process. 

Green onions are seeing thrips populations slow down. Typically, thrips populations will decrease as we enter into Autumn and see these species move onto weedy hosts. 

Fruit

Sanitation is an important component of an integrated disease management program. In small fruit and tree fruit alike, there are diseases that can over winter on infested fruit, foliage and branches. As the season winds down, it is still important to scout for diseases that may be present, identify the disease and have a plan of action to manage the disease. Finding and removing mummy fruit, which are dried and shriveled fruit that are typically full of fungal structures, will help to significantly reduce disease inoculum from the production area. Too, mowing and mulching or raking away the leaves from around the trees and bushes reduces the amount of viable inoculum that may be overwintering in foliage. Much progress can be made towards disease management with efforts made in the fall. Taking these steps, and committing to them long term, helps to break disease cycles and reduce the overall pathogen load over time. 

Fruit rots are being observed in apples, including white rot and bitter rot. Bitter rot is common in apples during warm, wet conditions. For more information, take a look at this OSU article on bitter rot in apple. Marsoninna blotch is also found on apples. 

The pawpaw crop in Ohio this season has been later and smaller than past years. Pawpaw is a niche crop that is gaining popularity with Ohio consumers and can be used as an ingredient in specialty craft beers, ice cream, and other value-added items. For more information on pawpaw production, check out this factsheet from Cornell University. Learn more about the pawpaw industry in Ohio by visiting the Ohio PawPaw Growers Association website.

Pawpaw fruit cluster. Photo by Clemson University. 

 

Upcoming Events

September 30, Albany, OH OEFFA CSA Veggie Farm Tour

December 5 – 7, Grand Rapids, MI, Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, & Farm Market Expo 

January 15 – 16, Columbus, OH, 2024 Ohio Produce Network

February 15 – 17, Newark, OH, 2024 Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) Conference

 

OSU Extension Bi-Weekly Fruit & Vegetable Report – September 15th, 2023

The OSU Extension Fruit & Vegetable Report is written/published collectively by OSU Extension staff across the state. 

View a recording of the OSU Extension Bi-Weekly Fruit & Vegetable Report updates below:

Farm Science Review 2023

The Farm Science Review (FSR) is one of the nation’s premier farm shows and one of OSU Extension’s largest, most far-reaching educational programs. The event will be held at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center near London, Ohio on September 19th – 21st. The OSU Extension Fruit & Vegetable Team will be hosting a tent all 3 days that will feature presentations from academic and industry speakers on a variety of topics, including nutrient management, entomophagy, integrated pest management, variety trial results, farm marketing, and more. The OSU Extension Fruits & Vegetables exhibit will be located near the gazebo near the Utzinger Garden (booth 385). We hope to see you there!

Check out the 2023 Farm Science Review Program for further information.

Speaker schedule for OSU Extension Fruits & Vegetables exhibit at FSR 2023. Note: There will also be a presentation by Dr. Marne Titchnell, Extension Wildlife Program Director for OSU,  on wildlife management in fruits & vegetables on Wednesday, September 20th from 1:30 – 2:00 PM.

Purple carrot-seed moth detection

The OSU Plant & Pest Diagnostic Clinic (PPDC) recently received an insect sample that was identified to be purple carrot-seed moth (Depressaria depressana), a known pest of crops in the Apiaceae family. This was the first report of purple carrot-seed moth found in Ohio, though it has been found in neighboring states. The insect feeds on the flower heads of crops like carrot, parsnip, dill, celery, parsley, and more, but it is yet unknown if it will be an economically important pest of these crops in Ohio. Check out the article from PPDC for more information.

Please report any suspected larvae/adults with pictures to entomology@osu.edu or ppdc@osu.edu.

Purple carrot seed moth larvae (top) and adult (bottom). Photo by Iowa State University Extension (top) and University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Entomology (bottom). 

Crop updates

Vegetables

Cucurbits

Downy mildew continues to wreak havoc in cucurbit plantings this time of year. As a refresher, here is a factsheet from Michigan State University on downy mildew mitigation. Powdery mildew pressure is reported to be increasing in southern Ohio. Striped cucumber beetles populations are declining in central/northeast Ohio and transitioning more towards higher numbers of corn rootworm beetles. Western corn rootworm, a look-alike of striped cucumber beetle, also feeds on cucurbits and can impact yield if heavy populations are present. Check out this article from Iowa State University for information on identifying different rootworm beetle pests. 

Virus symptoms are being observed in some melon plantings. There are various aphid-vectored potyviruses that affect cucurbits and they can be hard to differentiate from one another, though control practices are similar for all of them. The big 4 for cucurbit crops are cucumber mosaic virus, papaya ring spot virus, watermelon mosaic virus, and zucchini yellow mosaic virus. Like many crop diseases, management practices are preventative and include using resistant varieties or planting earlier to ensure harvest before viral symptoms appear towards the end of the season. Getting aphids under control may also minimize virus infection to some degree.

Cucumber mosaic virus – symptoms include yellowish-green “mosaic” mottling on foliage or fruit and crinkled leaves. Photo by Gerald Holmes, Strawberry Center, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Bugwood.org.

Papaya ringspot virus – symptoms include wrinkled leaves and discolored, bumpy fruit. Photo by Mary Ann Hansen, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org.

 

Watermelon mosaic virus – symptoms include wrinkled leaves and geometric patterns on fruit.  Photo by Dorina Pitorac, European Plant Protection Organization.

Zucchini yellow mosaic virus – symptoms include blistered, wrinkled leaves and fruit with discolored bumps. Photo by University of Massachusetts Extension.

Fruiting Vegetables

Late-season aphid feeding is being observed in some solanaceous crops. Honeydew is a sugary liquid secreted by aphids and other sap-sucking insects (whiteflies, spotted lanternfly, etc.). Honeydew accumulation on crop foliage or fruit can lead to growth of sooty mold, which is a term for various genera of fungi that colonize the sticky exudate. Sooty mold does not render vegetables inedible, however, and can be readily washed off. 

Honeydew from aphids (and other sap-suckers) on plant leaves is sticky to the touch and can be colonized by sooty mold. Photos by Kansas State University Entomology (top) and Joe Boggs, the Ohio State University Extension (bottom). 

Regular bouts of rainfall as we head into the fall are leading to increased incidence of Phytophthora infection in peppers (and cucurbits). While excess water is a problem for some vegetable growers in Ohio, some parts of western Ohio still remain abnormally dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Mites have been a problem in some areas, while thrips have taken a downturn. Keeping mites under control towards the end of the season can reduce the chance of heavy pressure next season by reducing the egg load/number of overwintering adults that will become next year’s mite infestations.

Fruit

Tree fruits

Early varieties of apples are being harvested across the state. Brown marmorated stinkbug pressure is increasing. Bitter rot is starting to be observed in some orchards. Marssonina leaf blotch is also being seen in some organic orchards, where management can be difficult without the use of fungicides. Removal/destruction of leaves on the orchard floor in the fall can reduce overwintering sites for the pathogen. Black knot is being seen on some ornamental plum trees, so commercial plum and cherry growers should keep an eye out for black knot galls on their trees and promptly remove them if they see them.

Gall of black knot (Apiosporina morbosa), a fungal pathogen of plum, cherry, and other types of fruit trees. Photo by Joseph O Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org.

Small Fruits

Preparing Brambles for Winter – Sanitation Practices for Disease Prevention
Melanie Ivey, State Fruit Pathologist and Fresh Produce Safety Specialist, The Ohio State University

Disease management of perennial fruit crops is a year-round endeavor. Many fungal pathogens survive the winter months in the soil or plant debris, infected canes or buds, or dead canes. As part of an integrated disease management program fall sanitation practices to reduce inoculum in the planting should be done.  Best sanitation practices include removing floricanes after harvest, removing diseased and dead canes, removing dead or systemically infected plants, and raking or chopping fallen leaves. Pruning debris should be destroyed by burning or placing in the trash or discarding it away from the planting. Diseased plant material should not be composted.  Pruning cuts should be sharp and clean to avoid unnecessary mechanical wounds.

The fall is also a good time to scout for and remove wild bramble populations that are near the production field. In addition to fall sanitation practices, some diseases require a dormant or delayed dormant fungicide application. For dormant or delayed dormant fungicide recommendations consult the Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide (OSU Extension Bulletin 506).

The table below summarizes where the fungi for several common diseases of brambles in Ohio overwinter, the recommended fall sanitation practices for each disease, and whether a dormant or delayed dormant fungicide application is recommended.

Upcoming Events: 

September 19 – 21, Farm Science Review

September 27, Wooster, OH, Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day

September 30, Albany, OH OEFFA CSA Veggie Farm Tour

December 5th – 7th, Grand Rapids, MI, Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, & Farm Market Expo 

January 15 – 16, Columbus, OH, 2024 Ohio Produce Network

February 15 – 17, Newark, OH, 2024 Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) Conference