SE Michigan regional report for the week of May 20, 2009
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EmailEditor’s note: This article is from the archives of the MSU Crop Advisory Team Alerts. Check the label of any pesticide referenced to ensure your use is included.
Weather
We have had a very wet, cool spring in southeast Michigan until very
recently. Consequently, this has slowed vegetable field operations for
all crops. Now, however, there is a great deal of activity in fields. We
had some light, scattered frost this past two weeks on two dates, but
apparently there was not any crop damage that I am aware of.
It is interesting to note that in northern Ohio, there were places where
vegetable growers have been experiencing rather dry conditions this
spring, so the wet weather has not been occurring everywhere.
Since I am an entomologist, I cannot help but notice the dramatic
increases in insect activity in the last couple of weeks with the warmer
weather.
Crop reports
Cabbage transplanting was off to a slow start, but has
increased dramatically in the past two weeks with the warmer, drier
field conditions. Just a note here that some cabbage fields in northwest
Ohio have already been sprayed for flea beetles, so keep an eye out for
these on cabbage.
Sweet corn planting has also been slow in getting
started, but growers are now getting into fields and the pace has picked
up dramatically.
Potatoes are also being planted this week in southeast
Michigan. This Friday morning (May 22), I will be joining Chris Long,
the MSU potato specialist, in Blissfield, Michigan for the planting of
his potato varietal plots at Lennard
