Vegetable Diseases of the Week

Sunscald injury on stems of newly transplanted pepper seedlings caused by stems laying against edges of black plastic mulch on hot, sunny days.

Note: Secondary pathogens such as Alternaria can infest the bleached out areas of the stem over time.
-Andy Wyenandt

Vegetable Diseases - Photos of the Week

Phytophthora crown rot of summer squash causing plant to collapse. Base of stems will turn soft, black with greasy, white  sporangia (spores) developing on infected stem tissue.
-Andy Wyenandt

Lettuce Tipburn

From Rutgers Plant & Pest Advisory <Subscribe>

Weather conditions over the past couple of weeks support CA research conclusions linking lettuce tipburn to environmental conditions

Severe cases of lettuce tipburn have occurred this past week in southern NJ resulting in 75+ percent incidence in some fields rendering it physically and economically impossible to salvage those plantings. This comes at a time when those fields are just ready to harvest.

--Rick VanVranken

--Andy Wyenandt

NEWA New Jersey Specific Disease & Pest Forecasting

The Vegetable Working Group teams up with Cornell University's Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA) to bring disease and insect forecasting to vegetable growers throughout New Jersey. [Note left sidebar link]

-Andy Wyenandt

"Local" the hot trend in the restaurant industry

Though there's no official definition of "local" in the food industry, and there's plenty of discussion about the real and/or perceived benefits of "buying local", if restaurant chefs are any indicator, consumers want local. The results of National Restaurant Association's annual What's Hot Survey indicate locally sourced meats and seafoods, and locally sourced produce are ranked #1 and #2 in the top 20 industry menu trends, as reported in The Packer today. Indeed, I have a stack of calls from restaurant owners and chefs wanting to find "local" farmers to work with this season. So, as we know in marketing that the buyer is always right, if consumers want local, give them your best Jersey Fresh local!  -- Rick VanVranken

For Diversified Growers a NE Floriculture Greenhouse Update

"Due to cloudy, overcast weather and in some cases - downpours, Botrytis is everywhere. Downy mildew has been also observed this week on basil."
Read about these observations and more from Floriculture Greenhouse Update.
-Jenny Carleo 

Report Hail Storm Damage

Hail combined with heavy wind driven rain occurred in vicinity of Mays Landing, Atlantic Co. If it causes any crop damage on your farm, be sure to report it to your local Farm Services Agency and document the damage as soon as possible.
Rick VanVranken