Alliums:
Reports of poor garlic growth and stand this spring due to poor quality seed stock planted in fall. A variety of factors contribute to this, including eriophyid mite damage, fusarium, and winter injury from freezing and thawing.
As first cutting of hay wraps up and early grains are taken for straw or drying down, expect to see a migration of thrips and even aphids out of these crops into other crops close by, especially onions and other alliums. When scouting for thrips, be sure to look down into the heart where the leaves are emerging as this is a nicely protected area they like to hide in. Onion thrips are still below the action threshold for the first application of Movento in the earliest transplanted onions in Orange County. Remember, Movento does not have good activity on adult thrips that may be migrating into fields. Entomologist Dr. Brian Nault’s most current onion thrips management guidelines are available on slide 21 here.
White rot has been found in small garlic plantings in both Orange County and Columbia County in the past couple of weeks. If garlic plants are dying prematurely, especially in lower lying areas with higher soil moisture, carefully remove the affected plants with a trowel and inspect the bulb and shaft for the poppy seed-sized sclerotia. Sclerotia can remain viable in the field for up to 50 years, so extra care is required when handling and disposing of infested plants. See white rot images and read more about management options here.
Brassicas:
In the Capital District, Kale and collards look almost the same as they did nearly three weeks ago – flea beetles are active and will only continue to build with these hot, dry conditions. The first activity of Imported Cabbage Worm moth was spotted but no larvae or feeding damage.
Chenopods (Beets, Chard, Spinach):
Leaf miner continues to be a problem in many plantings of these crops. Killing off the larvae feeding now can reduce the pressure of the next generation. Organic growers may pick of and dispose of infested leaves, or use Entrust (spinosad), which will penetrate leaves and will control some leaf miners. Conventional growers may use Coragen (clorantraniliprole) or Trigard (cyromazine).
Cucurbits:
Lots of pumpkins and winter squash are going in the ground this week so it’s a good time to review which conventional herbicides are available. Two-way tank mixes of different products are often most effective. Some recommended tank mixes are:
- Sandea (Profine is the generic version) plus Dual Magnum plus Command 3ME – great for pumpkins, winter squash and other fall ornamentals
- Sandea plus Command ME or Strategy plus Sandea – also safe on the above
- Command 3ME, Dual Magnum plus Reflex –only use this on pumpkins. Do not use on butternut squash or those varieties in the Maxima family (Kabocha, Jardale, Big Moose etc.) as too much injury can occur.
Remember, Dual Magnum and Dual II Magnum are labeled but you must leave a 6” untreated strip on either side of the planting row – for broadcast applications only Dual Magnum is labeled and you must have a copy of the 24C label in your possession! For more information including rates and more information about labeling, please see the longer article on our blog or to see a table of labeled materials click here.
Nightshades:
Cold damage has been reported in tomato and peppers that were transplanted earlier in May. Growers who held off planting last week due to predicted low temperatures have been getting plants out into the field this week. Overwintered Colorado potato beetle (CPB) adults are now slowly emerging throughout the region. With temperatures increasing, so will CPB emergence, egg laying and hatch. Check on borders of potato and eggplant fields for adults and yellow-orange clusters of bullet shaped eggs on undersides of leaves. Flag egg clusters and check for hatch after a day or two. Available insecticides used for control are best used against small larvae.
Corn:
The first moths of the season were caught in Clinton County this week: 1 European corn borer (Z-strain), with some damage observed in the field at this site. As the heat continues to intensify, probably a good time to remove floating covers if you haven’t already. I’ve also seen quite a few weedy sweet corn pieces in the last week, especially those that were under rowcovers.
Sweet Potatoes:
Sweet Potato Slips are here! Sweet potato slips will likely be arriving this week or into next week so it’s time to review how to handle and plant properly to get them off to the best start. It seems to never fail that they arrive on the hottest days of the season and this year it looks like it will be well into the upper 80’s and 90’s when you plant!
Fertility: Nitrogen – 50 to 60 pounds of actual nitrogen – additional amounts can lead to more growth, cracking and rough root appearances. Varieties such as Beauregard and Covington are less sensitive to nitrogen levels, but still do not require much more than the recommended 50 lbs. Phosphorous – 60 pounds per acre of phosphorous, but these levels should be adjusted to your soil type and frequent soil nutrient testing. Potassium – 150 to 200 pounds of actual potassium. Potassium helps ensure uniform roots and is essential for flavor and storability.
Handling Slips: Plant your slips as soon as you receive them—do not try to hold them for more than a couple of days. If you can’t plant them right away, do not put them in a cooler—keep them in a cool, shady area. Coolers can be too cold and dry plants out resulting in the plants being injured. Do not leave them in the boxes in the sun either! If possible, open the boxes and spread your slips out if you can’t get them planted right away. Do not “soak” your plants in water! This only makes them slimy and encourages bacterial breakdowns. If you need to hold your plants for more than 3 or 4 days, place them standing up in shallow trays filled with sand or potting mix and keep the media moist.
Spacing: Growers’ spacing is often based on what their equipment will allow. The most common spacing seen is on plastic mulched beds (30 – 36” wide bed tops); double staggered row (like for peppers); 15” – 18” apart in the row and 12” between the rows.
Planting: Planting is the most labor consuming issue with this crop. What I’ve seen work best is a wheel fitted with small spikes that can be run on top of the beds or using a piece of ⅜ ” – ½” rebar and poking holes and planting is quicker and doesn’t leave that huge hole in the plastic. This also lets you get a deeper hole without burying the growing point as each node along the stem we can get into the ground is potential for more yield! Make sure the beds are moist, so the hole doesn’t collapse on itself when you remove the rebar and make sure to give the hole a little pinch after you put the slip in to seal it up. Make sure beds are moist and maintain good moisture for at least 7—10 days after planting. Running the drip if you use plastic or operating overhead sprinklers for several days after planting, especially if temperatures are going to be in the upper 80’s -90’s will ensure proper rooting.
Miscellaneous:
Across the region, temperatures are forecast to climb into the upper 80s/ low 90s for a few days, beginning today 5/31/2023. Dry conditions are already reported in many areas and extra irrigation may be needed especially in newly transplanted fields. Also consider removing row cover to avoid heat damage to plants, more information on this topic can be found by clicking here.
High ozone levels are predicted this week with the hot, humid, and hazy weather coming up. Ozone damage in plants appears as white or tan speckling and discoloration of leaves. Symptoms will be present throughout the planting. Predicted ozone levels across the USA can be found here. For more information and photos of ozone damage in cucurbit crops: https://blogs.cornell.edu/livegpath/gallery/cucurbits/ozone-injury-in-cucurbit-crops/
Farmers: What’s in your weed seedbank? Bryan Brown, Integrated Weed Management Specialist with the NYS IPM Program is leading a weed seedbank project sponsored by SARE that will analyze weed seedbanks on 50 farms in the region this summer to provide tailored management recommendations. Interested in participating? Click here to find out more.
Some organic growers certified by NOFA-NY who have included the copper fungicide/bactericide Badge X2 on their inputs list may have been notified that the product is no longer OMRI-listed. The product manufacturer, Gowan Chemical, has resolved the issue and secured OMRI certification for Badge X2 moving forward.