Pumpkins/Squash

Pumpkin management in the final stretch in Michigan

You are in the final stretch of the pumpkin season in Michigan. Vines are dying down and cutting has begun. It is at this point you discover just how well your growing season management practices... more »

Phytophthora crown rot on cucurbits, peppers requires diligence

This year’s wet conditions are just what phytophthora ordered. This plant pathogen lives in the soil and survives Michigan winters. It does not move via air currents but spreads via splash of contaminated soil, surface... more »

North Carolina pumpkin grower honored

The Sunbelt Ag Expo recently named pumpkin and Christmas tree grower Johnny Wishon its 2019 North Carolina farmer of the year.... more »

Disorders in summer squash, cucumbers revisited

A number of fruit and fruiting disorders have been observed in summer squash and cucumbers recently including lack of fruit set, bottlenecking, pinched blossom ends, crooks, nubs, hollow centers or cavities, fruit zippering and scarring.... more »

Georgia growers need to apply fungicides to curb downy mildew disease

Georgia vegetable farmers should be on alert as downy mildew disease has been spotted in at least three southern Georgia counties this spring. Additional counties could follow as weather conditions remained favorable for the disease... more »

Illinois expertise tackles pumpkin bacterial spot

Bacterial spot of pumpkin is a serious emerging disease affecting pumpkin growers around the world. However, University of Illinois researchers and Extension personnel are at the forefront of understanding the problem and how to manage... more »

Oregon pumpkin crop value up 50 percent

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has published vegetable production statistics for the 2018 growing year in the Pacific Northwest. Although production numbers for many crops were down at least slightly from 2017, there... more »

Sykes launches organic brand for squash

The Sykes Co. of Rio Rico, Arizona, in November announced a new brand, Palo Alto Organics, for hard squashes grown by its grower-partners in Mexico. Spaghetti and butternut squashes will be among the first of... more »