University of Florida cooperative extension roports on crop conditions in the The South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline throughout the growing season. Widespread issues with downy mildew in squash in South Florida were reported at the end of January. Downy mildew is widely present in Homestead on squash and oriental cucurbits. Powdery mildew is also widely present around Homestead.
Read more about Cucurbit Downy Mildew and Powdery Mildew management.
Other pests in Southern Florida and the Homestead area in specialty cucurbits and squash include melonworms and cucumber beetles in multiple crops.
In the Crop Report section of the newsletter, a table of average weekly shipping prices for Central and South Florida reports low and high prices for squash from December Growers are beginning to terminate fall crops and are beginning to plant spring crops, including watermelons, around SW Florida.
