This is usually the time of year we want rain, but many sites have had 3 or more inches already in July on top of the six or more inches in June.
Posted on July 9, 2014 by Ron Goldy, Michigan State University Extension
Weather
According to the Michigan State University’s Benton Harbor Enviro-weather station, the area received 1.01 inches of rain for the week. Temperatures were near normal with highs from 69 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit and lows from 51 to 66 degrees F. We are at 1149 base 50 growing degree days (GDD) putting us 34 units behind 2013.
Field activities
Field activities continue to be slowed due to rains on June 30 and July 1 and then added to by rains this week. Many fields have standing water over the rows. Significant soil erosion has occurred in some fields causing washouts and covering plants. Some hail damage was reported from the storms on June 30 and July 1.
Crop reports
Early planted summer squash, zucchini and cucumber fields are being removed. Watermelon and cantaloupe fruit is sizing well. Pumpkins are at early bloom. With the continued wet weather, growers need to protect these crops against powdery mildew.
Peppers and eggplant continue to flower and set fruit. Early planted, tunnel-grown tomatoes are close to harvest. Staking and tying continues in tomatoes with some fields on their third and fourth string. Bacterial spot and speck have increased on tomatoes, especially those grown under tunnels.
Sweet corn grown under row covers should be close to harvest. Early, uncovered plantings are silking.
Miscellaneous
Early applied herbicides in some fields have reached the end of their effectiveness and weeds are beginning to come back. An increase in leafhopper and Japanese beetle activity has been observed.
For more information on commercial vegetable production, contact Michigan State University Extension’s Ron Goldy at 269-944-1477 ext. 207 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.cnchemicals.com/. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://www.cnchemicals.com/, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).
Related Articles
-
July 9, 2014 | Ben Werling | Continue to keep on top of disease control programs in this very wet year.
-
July 7, 2014 | Willie Kirk | Late blight has been confirmed in potatoes south of the Michigan-Indiana border near Howe, Indiana. Effective management of this disease requires implementing an integrated disease management approach.
-
July 3, 2014 | Dennis Stein | The ditches and streams on your farmland will fall under new standards if regulations become the law of the land.
-
July 3, 2014 | Ben Phillips | Harvests begin on summer squash and zucchini and continue on lettuce, string beans, greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers.
-
July 2, 2014 | Terry McLean | Warmer weather and favorable rainfall in the past week has vegetable crops growing rapidly in urban and semi-rural small scale diversified farm fields and hoop-houses.
Related Events
-
Date: Jul 19, 2014 - Aug 9, 2014
Location: MSU Detroit Center, 3408 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48201
-
Date: Jul 22, 2014 - Jul 24, 2014
Location: Michigan State University
-
Date: Aug 15, 2014
Location: MSU Horticultural Research Center (6686 South Center Highway, Traverse City, MI 49684)