Gordon Johnson, Extension Vegetable & Fruit Specialist; gcjohn@udel.edu
Each year bring its challenges for vegetable production and 2014 was no exception.
For processing vegetables, the pea year started off very late with little planting until late March. However, overall yields were about average with only on hot week in June compressing harvests.
Processing sweet corn yields were at or near record levels with 10 ton yields being common and processors were able to handle the extra production.
Early pickle yields were excellent and downy mildew was not a major issue on the spring crop. Fall crop pickle yields have been variable with heavy downy mildew pressure.
Lima bean yields have been excellent due to the cool August weather and harvest is progressing smoothly. Disease pressure has been manageable; however, significant acreage has been sprayed with fungicides for downy mildew and white mold. Insect pressure has been normal.
On the fresh market side, sweet corn yields have been high and markets have been fair to good.
The watermelon year was very difficult for growers. Demand was down due to the cool summer until the period before Labor Day and there was an oversupply of watermelons resulting in lower prices. A larger percentage of the crop was not harvested or only lightly harvested. Disease pressure was very high this year with a wide range of foliar and fruit diseases taking their toll. There were significant losses to Phytophthora again.
Tomatoes also had significant disease pressure and prices were also low on the wholesale level.