VegNet Vol. 11, No. 13.  July 8, 2004
Ohio State University Extension Vegetable Crops

On the WEB at:  http://vegnet.osu.edu

In This Issue

1. Phytophthora Blight on Tomatoes

2. Crop Report

3. Vegetable Calendar

4. Farm Focus

5. The 10 Day Outlook

 

 

Phytophthora Blight on Tomatoes From: Mac Riedel and Nancy Taylor

 

Trellised fresh market tomatoes from Wayne and Meigs Co. have developed >soft, brown lesions on the upper portions of stems. When cut, stems show extensive rotting of the pith well beyond the borders of the stem lesion. Phytophthora capsici, the causal agent of Phytophthora Blight, has been cultured from these tomatoes.

 

In general, this fungus has not been serious on tomatoes. It commonly causes Buckeye Rot on the fruit, but it usually has not caused stem or leaf lesions. The weather has been exceptionally favorable for development of this disease. The fungus requires warm temperatures and abundant soil moist. Frequent rains which cause a few hours of flooding also favor disease development. Heavy rains can splash soil with the fungus onto the upper parts of the plants, also.

 

At this time, control will require use of fungicides. Ridomil Gold is effective, but the long PHI periods of Ridomil Gold/Bravo mixes probably not be compatible with harvest schedules now. Amistar (1 day PHI), Tanos (3 day PHI) or Gavel (5 day PHI) may be better choices.

 

Because of the disease development on tomatoes, a relatively resistant host, growers should be examining more susceptible crops such as vine crops and peppers for development of this disease. Review information on this disease at:

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3116.html

 

 

Crop Report (Hal Kneen)

Southeast OH

Weather has been on most growers' minds. Too dry says the sweet corn grower as he irrigates his silking fields this past week. Picking bare ground Temptation corn, Seneca Daybreak already completed.

Tomato growers like the dry weather. Most are irrigating their fields especially later bearing tomatoes. Sunbright, PicRed, Sunsation, varieties are being harvested. Specialty tomatoes (cherry, grape, roma, saladette, yellow, beefstake, Mr. Stripey) are being picked by some growers while others will be two - three weeks away from picking.

 

Bell peppers, cucumbers, squash, Blue Lake green beans, hot peppers all being harvested.

 

Bare ground muskmelons and watermelon for local vendors will be ready in about two weeks.

 

Weak insect (European Corn Borer, Corn earworm)  pressure on sweet corn. Bacterial speck and Phytophphora on tomatoes. (see Taylor -Riedel report).

 

 

Vegetable Calendar

July 29  Muck Crops Agr. Research Station Field Day, 4875 St. Rt. 103 South Celeryville, Ohio (mailing address is Willard, Ohio 44890) from 10:00 a.m. to Noon’ Contact: Rick Callendar, 419 935-1201 callendar.1@osu.edu)

 

August 4,  The Walking the Fields tour.  This tour as in the past will be held just prior to the Station Field day from 1:00 to 3:00 pm and will originate from the Station. The tour will focus on and make stops at various commercial vegetable crops fields in the Fremont area.  Contacts: Matt Hofelich 419-332-5142 (hofelich.4@osu.edu), or Mark Koenig 419-334-6340 (koenig.55@osu.edu) .

 

August 4,  Vegetable Crops Field Day , 3:30 - 6:00 PM, OARDC's North Central Agricultural Research Station (formerly named: OARDC Vegetable Crops Branch). located at 1165 C.R 43 Fremont, Ohio.  Contacts: Matt Hofelich 419-332-5142 (hofelich.4@osu.edu), or Mark Koenig 419-334-6340  (koenig.55@osu.edu).

 

August 12,  Pumpkin Field Day, 4 to 6 PM, Western Agricultural Research Station, S. Charleston.

Pumpkin Research topics: Strategy and Sandea herbicide in no-till with rye cover; Admire label issues / discussion; Seed specific banding of insecticide research using pumpkins, zucchini’s, and cucumbers; Pumpkin variety plots; Fungicide plots; Pumpkin catapult?

 

Want PAT & CCA credits? $15 per person; General admission: $5 per person

 

OSU Researchers Present: Matt Darr, Reza Ehsani, Jim Jasinski, Erdal Ozkan, Bob Precheur, Mac Riedel, Matt Sullivan & Celeste Welty

 

Need more information? Contact Jim Jasinski at 937-484-1526, jasinski.4@osu.edu, or 937-239-6850.

 

 

Farm Focus 2004 (From: Dusty Sonnenberg, email: sonnenberg2@postoffice.ag.ohio-state.edu)

The 30th Annual Farm Focus will take place on Friday, July 30th from 8-5, and Saturday, July 31st from 8-4 at the Marsh Foundation School Farm.  The site is located at in intersection of U.S. 30 and U.S. 127 in Van Wert.  Farm Focus features 15 acres of Agricultural and Horticultural Exhibits, Wagon Tours of Research Plots, Farm Equipment Demonstrations including GPS Technology, an Antique Tractor Pull and much more.  The OSU Extension Vegetable Crops Team will also have a display.  For more information abut Farm Focus call (419) 238-1214, or visit them on the web at www.farmfocusshow.com

 

 

The 10 Day Outlook

Temperature: From July 8 to July 13, the mean surface temperature for most of OH except the northeast counties will be between 70 to 80 degrees F. The mean surface temperature in these northeastern counties will be between 60 to 70 degrees.

From July 13 to July 18, the mean surface temperature for all of OH will be between 70 to 80 degrees F.

 

Precipitation: From July 8 to July 13, There are chances to receive 0.5 to 1 inch of rain with extreme northwest OH receiving more rain.

From July 13 to July 18, most of OH will see 0.5 inches or less.

 

Consult the “Weather Links” portion of the VegNet Website and scroll down to the National Weather Service office locations for your part of Ohio. Use the graphical interface section to get more specific forecasts for you county or location.