High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes June 4, 2012

 High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes June 4, 2012

Summary: Peppers in experimental trials at Meigs Farm are blooming; possible nutritional problems observed in red raspberries; white druplets seen in blackberries; blossom end rot and zippering of tomatoes observed; pests observed on tomatoes include aphids, cabbage loopers, yellow striped armyworm, and stink bug (eggs only).

Join us again on June 18, 2012. 12:30–1:30 p.m. Eastern/11:30-12:30 Central. Point your web browser to https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/ and click on the phone icon to be dialed in to the call, or just dial 1-866-492-6283.

Dr. David Conner from Univ. of Vermont will join us to discuss results of his economic research on high tunnel production in Michigan. You might be interested in reading some of the information in advance. See 'Model Business Plan for Season Extension with Hoophouses' at http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/uploads/files/59/HoopHouseBulletin.pdf, and 'Hoophouse Contributions to Farm Profitability and Food System Sustainability: Lessons from Michigan' at http://www.joe.org/joe/2011february/tt9.php. There is also an abstract ' Determinants of Hoophouse Profitability: A Case Study of 12 Novice Michigan Farmers' available at http://horttech.ashspublications.org/content/22/2/215.abstract.

High Tunnel Crop Talk Notes 05-21-2012

Summary: Crops are progressing well with small fruit harvest underway, cukes close to harvest, tomato and pepper fruit developing. Tomato pith necrosis has been observed.

Join us again on June 4, 2012. 12:30–1:30 p.m. Eastern/11:30-12:30 Central. Point your web browser to https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/htct/ and click on the phone icon to be dialed in to the call, or just dial 1-866-492-6283.

Tomato pith necrosis often causes the pith to appear rotten and the external stem to have necrotic lesions.  Photo by Dan Egel.

The stems of tomato plants affected by tomato pith necrosis often appear shriveled and wrinkled. Photo by Dan Egel.

Tomato Pith Necrosis:
Tomato pith necrosis has been observed recently in a high tunnel.  This disease is caused by a bacterium.   Although observations of this disease in Indiana are infrequent, growers should scout their production for tomato pith necrosis.  Management options include avoiding excessive nitrogen fertilization and high humidity.