Central Michigan vegetable regional report – June 3, 2015

Field work is underway again after rain showers over the weekend.

Colorado potato beetle. Photo: Fred Springborn, MSU Extension
Colorado potato beetle. Photo: Fred Springborn, MSU Extension

Weather

Air temperatures were highly variable again this week with highs ranging from 58 degrees Fahrenheit on May 31 to 83 F on May 29 in Entrican, Michigan. Low temperatures ranged from 34.7 F on June 2 to 56.6 F on May 27. No significant frost injury was observed this week. Low soil temperatures range from the low 50s to low 60s.

Rainfall totals for the week ranged from 0.6 to over 1 inch. Rain showers on May 29-30 were generally steady and much of the rainfall was absorbed by soils readily. Soil conditions remain variable with some soils still too wet to work.

Crops

Chip potato planting is finishing with a few growers still planting. The early planted potatoes are being cultivated and hilled. Volunteer potatoes continue to emerge.

Transplanting continues of frost-sensitive crops into market gardens. Early peas are blossoming and snap beans are emerging.

Sweet corn planting continues with some growers making their final planting. The emergence rate is fairly rapid with the warmer soils. First plantings are at V5 to V6.

Asparagus spears continue to emerge and many growers continue to harvest.

Insects

Colorado potato beetles continue to emerge this week with egg masses present on untreated potatoes. A few first instar larvae have been observed.

We continue to catch only low numbers of true armyworm and black cutworm moths this week. Low catch numbers does not mean there is zero threat, however. Michigan State University Extension still recommends scouting for these pests as decisions on pesticide applications should be based on scouting reports and observations of larvae activity.

Remember that proper pest identification is an important part of pest scouting.

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