Central Michigan vegetable update – June 27, 2018
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EmailModerate rainfall in the region allowed excessive water to drain without additional stress to growing crops.
Weather
Air temperatures have ranged from the mid-70s to low 90s for much of the past two weeks with a few days reaching the low 90s. Moderate rainfall has allowed excessive water to drain without additional stress to growing crops.
Crops
Early planted potatoes are blossoming with vines covering the rows. The last of the potato crop has been planted and has emerged after several rain delays during the normal planting window. The majority of the crop is being sidedressed and hilled. Growers are applying fungicides on schedule to prevent late blight. As of this writing, there have been no confirmed reports of late blight in Michigan, though there has been a report of late blight on tomato in New York.
First pear plantings are filling pods and will be harvested soon.
Asparagus harvest has ended on most farms.
Dry bean and snap bean planting is nearly finished. Emergence has been generally very good.
Sweet corn planting is finished on most farms. Early planted corn is at V10 and up. Various nutrient deficiencies have been observed as well as symptoms of environmental stress. Continue to monitor nutrient status of the crop, especially in areas that have received high rainfall since planting or sidedressing. Nitrogen deficiencies have been observed where rainfall has been excessive as well as deficiencies in magnesium on certain soils.
In market gardens, table beets are growing well with various leaf spots observed. Most of these appear to be bacterial leaf spot or phoma leaf spot. I have not yet observed Cercospora leaf spot on table beets. Many other crops such as tomato, pepper, onions, etc. are growing well, but in some cases are delayed in maturity or growth due to late transplanting from the rain delays experienced earlier in the season.
Insects
Japanese beetle adults will begin emerging soon as the larvae finish pupating in the soil. Japanese beetle are relatively large insects that feed on a wide range of host plant species including many vegetable crops.
Colorado potato beetle adults, larva and eggs are present on potatoes as well as other host plants.
We have not seen a large number of true armyworm larvae this season. Those that are present will stop feeding soon as they begin pupating.
