The points of contact between Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service and the grower & business communities are the NJ County Agricultural Agents. The agents are a tremendous source of information for both new and experienced growers. Visit your local county extension office.
Phytophtora blight of pepper, eggplant, and cucurbit crops is favored by warm, wet weather; poorly-drained soils and poor crop rotations. Once established in a field the pathogen can survive for many growing seasons. Look for blackish-brown stems on wilted plants. -Andy Wyenandt
Vegetable growers and cucurbit enthusiasts can track the progress of cucurbit downy mildew development in the U.S. by visiting the cucurbit downy mildew forecasting website hosted by North Carolina State University. Individuals can keep track recent outbreaks and see what the potential threat is to New Jersey and mid-Atlantic region. Please check out the following link! http://cdm.ipmpipe.org/ -Andy Wyenandt