Defending Disease – 2024 Guide

Black rot and blackleg can devastate cruciferous vegetables Cruciferous vegetables—including broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, and kale excel in nutrition and versatility. Due to their popularity, many growers have increased their acreage. But various diseases can limit their production. Two of the most troublesome, black leg and black rot, can be seed-borne. The fungus, … Read more

Fruit Trees: Thinning Young Fruit to Prevent Maintenance – 2024 Guide

Fruit trees often set more fruit than they can support or develop adequately, especially if the trees were not properly pruned during the previous season. Excessive fruit competes with each other for carbohydrates (stored energy) and remains small. This carbohydrate drain, or “sink,” can also weaken the tree and make it more susceptible to pests … Read more

Unusual Crops – 2024 Guide

Horned melons, jicama, purple sweet potato, starfruit – visit a local supermarket or specialty food store in even a small city today and you will find an array of fruits and vegetables such as these that would have bewildered many a shopper of just a generation ago. While many of the unusual products were originally … Read more

Choosing the Best Seed For Your Farm in 2024

Have you ever really thought about the seed? Beyond poring over your seed catalogs and getting excited about new varieties or the return of tried-and-true selections, many farmers may not be thinking about all the factors that contribute to a quality seed experience. When seeds don’t work as expected due to poor germination, plants with … Read more