VEGETABLES:
- Cole crops: Cabbage, Cauliflower and Broccoli: In several fall harvest plantings of cole crops cabbage worm numbers were increasing and some growers were advised to treat where numbers reached economic threshold levels.
- High tunnel tomatoes: Early blight is present in many high tunnels, growers are encouraged to maintain a regular and consistent spray program. Yellow shoulder and blossom end rot, primarily abiotic conditions are also being noted by scouts. Damage by tomato hornworm was heavy in several high tunnels this week. Other insect pests noted by scouts this week included tomato fruit worm, variegated climbing cutworm and two-spotted spider mites.
- Field tomatoes: Bacterial speck, spot and canker all being found on plants. In some plantings bacterial spot, speck, and canker are being found on the tomato fruit. Early blight and septoria leaf spot are found in many plantings. Blossom end-rot, and yellow shoulder are also being found. Damage by tomato horn worms and variegated climbing cutworms was noted.
- Sweet corn: Development stages range from some v6 for late planted corn to harvest on some plantings. One corn earworm moth was found at one of the three locations where traps are set. Eastern corn borer moth trap counts were lower this past week with only 5 moths recorded at one of 3 trap locations. Fall armyworm feeding damage was seen in some fields and in one field the damage surpassed the economic threshold and treatment was recommended. In many fields, deer are a much bigger problem than insects or disease.
- Cucumbers: The big news this week is that downy mildew was confirmed from a cucumber plant sample taken from Wayne County. Growers in the region should be on a protective spray program against downy mildew from now until the end of harvest. Harvest is under way in some plantings and there have been some plantings made for intended fall harvest. Cucumber beetles were reported at high levels in some of the young cucumber plantings. Powdery mildew is showing up in many plantings.
- Zucchini and Summer Squash: Cucumber beetle numbers remained low this past week. Squash bug nymphs were seen. Angular leaf spot and powdery mildew are present in most if not all plantings.
- Winter Squash and Pumpkins: Cucumber beetle numbers in several plantings increased to above threshold numbers. Damage by the squash vine borer was noted on some plants. Angular leaf spot, anthracnose, bacterial wilt and powdery mildew are present in many plantings. Scouts noted feeding damage by deer, groundhogs and racoons. Some of the raccoon damage was very discouraging as raccoons had scooped holes into a number of the fruit.
- Melons: Angular leaf spot,fusarium wilt, and phytophthora blight have been found. Some cucumber beetle damage to melon fruit was noted.
- Potatoes: Some harvest of potatoes has started. Early blight was noted in some plantings. Colorado potato beetles (CPB) were lower this week.
- Peppers: Bacterial spot continues to develop. Blossom end rot can also be found. A few plantings had fruit with bacterial soft rot. Some of the soft rot can be attributed to fruit damage caused by corn borer larvae.
- Eggplant: Anthracnose found on some plants. This week scouts found some plantings with high numbers of flea beetles well above threshold levels. Colorado potato beetle and stink bugs were also noted.
- Green/Snap Beans: Beans generally look very good.