1. 10 am 4 inch soil temperature:  61 degrees F

2. Growing Degree Days (GDD) Since April 1: 2013 = 199.5 GDD Average** = 170.0 GDD

3. Tomato plant spacing;  How close?  The answer to this often asked question is that it depends.  It depends on the plant type (indeterminate or determinate), the trellising system and how the plant will be pruned?  See: http://www.extension.org/pages/18647/training-systems-and-pruning-in-organic-tomato-production for more details.  Feel free to e-mail me as well.

4. High tunnel critical temperatures. While raising the minimum temperature is important, keeping the maximum temperature from exceeding a range optimum for crop growth is equally important.  See http://anr.ext.wvu.edu/commercial_horticulture/high_tunnels/high_tunnel_temperature_management for the range in critical temps for common vegetable crops.

5. Did your fields get a little "too" green this spring?  The wet weather keep many of us from doing any prep work for our vegetable crops.  If you had significant winter annual weed growth, be scouting for the presence of cutworms. As general feeders, most cutworms attack a wide range of plants. Some common vegetable hosts include asparagus, bean, cabbage and other crucifers, carrot, celery, corn, lettuce, pea, pepper, potato, and tomato.  As the winter annual "host" crops are destroyed or die, the cutworms will look for the next most obvious green plants....your crops.

Cutworm and damaged corn pant.  Photo: Clemson University

Kyle

Illinois Fruit and Vegetable News:  http://ipm.illinois.edu/ifvn/

1. 10 am soil temp 4 inch level: 56.1 F

2. Growing Degree Days (GDD): 78.0 GDD Average** = 53.0 GDD

3. Insect Management in Apples and Peaches.  Key insects of concern for apple and peach growers during the few weeks after bloom include stink bugs and plant bugs, plum curculio, oriental fruit moth, codling moth, and San Jose scale.  See http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1282.pdf for more information.  ( Dr. Rick Weinzierl, U of I)

4. As asparagus emerges and harvests spread northward through the state, be sure to scout for asparagus beetle and its eggs (see photo); the threshold during harvest is 5-10% plants infested or 2% of spears with eggs. For complete control options, see the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers. ( Dr. Rick Weinzierl, U of I)

5. High tunnel growers. Nighttime low temperatures within a structure covered with two layers of plastic (with an insulating layer of air in between) generally average about 7º F to 8º F warmer than outside temperatures. Structures covered with just a single layer of plastic often realize only a 3º F increase in nighttime lows.

Kyle

Illinois Fruit and Vegetable Newsletter http://ipm.illinois.edu/ifvn/

1. 4 inch soil temp 10 am: 47.8 F

2. Growing Degree Days since April 1: 2013 = 51.0 GDD Average** = 18.5 GDD

3. Upcoming pest events based on Growing Degree Days. Combining the database of lifecycle information of insects and the daily growing degree day value calculated, we are able to make a fairly accurate estimation of all the phenological events that are likely to occur on or around a particular day.  To learn more about how to use GDD as a management tool visit: http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/pastpest/200302h.html

4. Cold, wet weather conditions favor development of seed rots and seedling blights. if seedling development is slowed or delayed 2-3 weeks, soil-borne pathogens have a much greater opportunity to cause damage.  Bottom line is to scout your plants that have already been planted.

5. High tunnel production.  Row covers in high tunnels sufficiently modify the environment to enhance crop growth.  Although they provide some frost protection, their primary function is to elevate temperatures a few degrees each day over a period of several weeks.  This increase is likely to only be 3-4 degrees but can make the difference between losing a crop and keeping one.

Kyle

Illinois Fruit and Vegetable News http://ipm.illinois.edu/ifvn/

1. Growing Degree Days since April 1:
2. 10 am 4 inch soil temperature (Monmouth) : 45.9?F
3. Transplants should be stocky and compact. Avoid tall, spindly plants. Most often the latter results from not enough light (quality and quantity). Overwatering can cause this response in plants as well. Water to keep media moist not wet. As a learned grower I know once told me "practice tough love when growing transplants." As a benefit, larger, thicker plants will fruit earlier.
4. Growers-be sure to register your farms with the Driftwatch™ registry from the Illinois Department of Agriculture at http://illinois.agriculture.purdue.edu/index.html. Driftwatch™ is a tool to help protect pesticide-sensitive crops and habitats in Illinois.
5. Lime sulfur is registered for use on most fruits, but is most commonly used on small fruit. Lime sulfur is used on brambles to control anthracnose, spur blight and cane blight. Lime sulfur is an effective dormant spray when applied early in the season as growth begins. When applied as a true dormant spray before growth begins, lime sulfur can be used with oil to increase the penetration of the caustic sulfur into the surface of the infected tissues. Once green tissue appears discontinue application.

Illinois Fruit And Vegetable News : http://ipm.illinois.edu/ifvn/

Welcome to the first weekly vegetable crop update for local fruit and vegetable growers for 2013. I hope 2013 is your most successful growing season yet. As a reminder, the weekly update is intended to be a short e-mail "conversation " regarding local growing conditions/issues. Each message will consist of five short items for your consideration. I would welcome any comments from you during the season.

Kyle

1. We will begin reporting growing degree days(GDD)the first of April.

2. 10am 4 inch soil temp: 32.8 F

3. Strawberries-uncover beds when the sustained soil temperature is maintained at or above 44 F.

4. Some keys to transplant success: Good sanitation, proper temperature and good light quality and quantity. Our Transplanting Success! Webinar on this topic can be found here:

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/hkmw/cat88_3419.html

5. Planting schedules can be made easier by designating each week of the year with a number. The first week in 2013 is week 1 and so on. By using this approach you can quickly create a general plan for growing this year and have a good idea when things should be happening.

Kyle

Illinois Fruit and Vegetable Newsletter link: http://ipm.illinois.edu/ifvn/

Hello everyone,

While this is the last weekly update for the season, I will continue to send out "updates" as situations warrant. In addition, you will be notified of the many upcoming training opportunities that we will be offering during the winter.

Kyle

1. 4 inch soil temp : 56.5 F
2. Growing Degree Days since April 1: 2012 = 3453.5 GDD Average** = 2923.0 GDD
3. From last week's message......Spotted Wing Drosophila is a destructive pest of thin-skinned fruits because unlike other Drosophila species, it lays eggs into ripening fruit before it's ready for harvest. Infested fruits "melt down" from larval feeding in just a few days. Adult flies live for up to 2 weeks, and females can lay up to 300 eggs. Development from egg to adult can occur in in little as 8 days, and 10 or more generations may develop within a season. We will continue trapping in this region next season. The general consensus is that the pest is present in most, if not all, of Illinois.
4. One spring cover crop for Illinois being evaluated is mustard. It's generally thought of as an early spring crop. Mustards, when incorporated into the soil, release glucosinolates that break down into isothiocyanates. Isothiocyanates serve as general fumigants, inhibiting microorganisms and weeds. Concentration of isothiocyanates is critical for their effectiveness. The take-home message for farmers based on this year's research is that further research on spring planting times is needed before we can recommend use of mustard as a biofumigant and cover crop. The system is complex and at this stage there's a lot we do not understand. John Masiunas (masiunas@illinois.edu) and Dan Anderson ( U of I)
5. Growing turnips this year? Turnips have their fair share of insect problems, which can include aphids, wireworms, and root maggots. During periods of cool, wet weather, which we can experience in the fall, root maggots can cause some pretty severe damage. Scout accordingly by pulling plants and observing any pest presence. Root maggots and wireworms attack the roots and therefore control requires preplant applications of proper insecticides to the soil.

Talk to all of you soon.

Kyle Cecil

1. Growing Degree Days since April 1. 2012 = 3365.0 GDD Average** = 2760.5 GDD
2. 4 inch soil temp: 59.2 F
3. IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT- Spotted Wing Drosophila has been confirmed in several locations in Illinois. Why be concerned? Unlike its cousin fruit flies that infect only ripened small fruits, the Spotted Wing Drosophila infects immature fruit thereby rendering it unmarketable. This is a significant change in how we have approach small fruit IPM. Much more info will be forthcoming throughout the winter.

****Please note: If you still have raspberries growing, can we install a survey trap to try to catch a few specimens of this pest and confirm its presence here? Contact me if so.

1. Post harvest handling of produce. Pumpkin growers-handle with care! Pumpkins are highly susceptible to bruising and will quickly deteriorate in quality if mishandled, making them unmarketable. We, Extension, will be providing a number of opportunities this coming year to fine-tune your approach to harvest handling.
2. High tunnel producers. Are your row covers ready to go? These are valuable and necessary tools for high tunnel fall and winter production. Most fall crops have been seeded and doing extremely well given the moderation in temperature.

The next Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Online Produce Safety Course will be offered beginning October 17, 2012 and ending November 6, 2012. To register for the course, please visit www.ecornell.com/gaps . A minimum of 10 people must be registered for us to offer the course and class size is limited to 25 people. The course price is now $190 due to the expiration of prior grant funding.

1. 4 inch soil temp: 71.3 F
2. Growing Degree Days since April 1: 2012 = 3289.0 GDD Average** = 2643.0 GDD
3. Small fruit crops and water supply-Water is essential for many of the small fruit crops this time of year, as they are now or will soon be setting fruit buds for next years' harvest. A lack of water at this time can be very detrimental, not only for survival but for nest years' crop. Strawberries, brambles, and other perennial fruit crops need one inch of rain per week and more as temperatures increase. (Mike Roegge, U of I)
4. Most pumpkin insect problems subside in September and early October prior to pumpkin harvest, but squash bugs, cucumber beetles and corn rootworm beetles, and aphids may persist and warrant control. Spotted cucumber beetles, striped cucumber beetles, and western corn rootworm beetles also feed directly on fruits, scarring the surface, making the frit unmarketable. Their feeding sites also provide entry for fruit-rotting pathogens. For control measures visit the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide at http://www.btny.purdue.edu/pubs/id/id-56/ID-56.pdf . ( Dr. Rick Weinzierl, U of I)
5. Growing Garlic For Market webinar. If you were unable to attend Wednesday night's program, follow this link and watch the session at any time:

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/hkmw/localfoods.html and click on the Growing For Market Link on the page.