Southwest Michigan vegetable update – Aug. 1, 2018
Cucurbit downy mildew is now present throughout the area, so a tighter spray schedule with more effective products is advised. Morning dew conditions will continue to be conducive for powdery mildew spread.
Southeast Michigan vegetable update – Aug. 1, 2018
In cucumbers, downy mildew reports continue to roll in from the southwest part of the state, and with the recent moisture, I suspect it will be in the eastside soon if it isn’t already. Stay on top of spray programs.
Muskmelons are sizing up and large-scale harvest will begin soon. I’ve gotten some questions about yellowed edges of older leaves. This is typically nothing to worry about, it is usually the result of guttation (droplets that naturally are exuded at leaf edges) and time, as substances found in the droplets accumulate on the leaf edge and cause plant damage, which then causes the edge of the leaf to yellow. It is likely we will get our first report of downy mildew on the eastside in the week, so keep on top of preventative sprays.
East Michigan vegetable update – Aug. 1, 2018
Vine crops are getting powdery mildew across the region. There are great products out there for this disease, which include Quintec, Torino, Rally, Merivon, Vivando, Luna Experience and Luna Sensation. This is most important in pumpkins, which benefit from a nice, healthy handle at the marketplace. All vine crop fruits will experience sunburn if powdery mildew is left unchecked, but the hard squashes can tolerate a heavier infestation because their stems and handles aren’t as important for marketing as in pumpkins.
Pumpkin fruits are just setting, with the largest about the size of a softball. Acorn, butternut and spaghetti squash are close to their market size, but are still ripening.
Pickling cucumber harvests are rolling. Downy mildew reports are coming in from the Thumb and southwest Michigan. It is a good time to use Ranman or Orondis Opti on new and older crops.
