Jerry Brust, IPM Vegetable Specialist, University of Maryland; jbrust@umd.edu Some mid-Atlantic growers are seeing excessive tomato blossom drop in their high tunnels (HTs). Flowers are forming but then abscising from the plant (Fig. 1). In a few of the high… Continue Reading
Gordon Johnson, Extension Vegetable & Fruit Specialist; gcjohn@udel.edu Recently a muskmelon field was observed with a whole section of the field producing fruits without netting (bald). Melons have several different potential rind patterns: smooth such as honeydews, wrinkled such as… Continue Reading
Gordon Johnson, Extension Vegetable & Fruit Specialist; gcjohn@udel.edu Several growers have commented that fruit size in strawberries is smaller than normal in 2017. This poses the question “what affects strawberry fruit size?” In plasticulture strawberries, one critical factor with varieties… Continue Reading
Gordon Johnson, Extension Vegetable & Fruit Specialist; gcjohn@udel.edu There have been a number of early pea fields with reduced seed set. Pods developed but only one or two seeds were formed. Reduced seed set is often related to flower development… Continue Reading
Gordon Johnson, Extension Vegetable & Fruit Specialist; gcjohn@udel.edu The first watermelon plantings have gone in across the region. Markets for early watermelons are normally the strongest so early planting is often more profitable. However, fruit set is often below desired… Continue Reading
