Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers 2019 Illinois University of Illinois Extension C1373-19 Indiana Purdue Extension ID-56 Iowa Iowa State University Extension and Outreach FG 0600 Kansas Kansas State University Research and Extension MF3279 Michigan Michigan State University Extension E0312 Minnesota University of Minnesota Extension BU-07094-S Missouri University of Missouri Extension MX384 Lincoln University of Missouri Cooperative Extension and Research LUCER 01-2019 Ohio Ohio State University Extension Bulletin 948 Stay Current For the most up-to-date version of this publication, visit: mwveguide.org Changes will be made throughout the year as they are received. Abbreviations Used in This Guide PHI pre-harvest interval — the minimum allowable time in days between the latest pesticide application and crop harvest AI active ingredient COC crop oil concentrate D dust formulation DF, DG dry flowable or water dispersible granule formulation E, EC emulsifiable concentrate F flowable formulation G granular formulation L, LC liquid concentrate formulation NIS nonionic surfactant REI re-entry interval RUP restricted use pesticide SC suspension concentrate W, WP wettable powder formulation Cover photo: Although a large proportion of broccoli Americans consume is produced in the western U.S, many Midwestern vegetable growers have been able to find local or regional markets for this crop. Health benefits include a high fiber content, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron and potassium. See the Cole Crops and Brassica Leafy Greens section, page 103. Insect, disease, and weed control recommendations in this publication are valid only for 2019. If registration for any of the chemicals suggested is changed during the year since the time of publication (December 2018), we will inform all area and county Extension staff. If in doubt about the use of any chemical, check with your Extension agent or chemical company representative. The information presented in this publication is believed to be accurate but is in no way guaranteed. The authors, reviewers, publishers, and their institutions assume no liability in connection with any use for the products discussed and make no warranty (expressed or implied) in that respect. Nor can it be assumed that all safety measures are indicated herein or that additional measures may be required. The user, therefore, must assume full responsibility, both as to persons and as to property, for the use of these materials including any that might be covered by patent. Always refer to the pesticide labels before each application. If the label information is different than the information presented in this guide, always follow the product label. Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers 2019 Editors Purdue University: Daniel S. Egel, Plant Pathology (Lead Author); Ricky Foster, Entomology; Elizabeth Maynard, Horticulture. University of Illinois: Mohammad Babadoost, Plant Pathology. Iowa State University: Ajay Nair, Horticulture. Kansas State University: Cary Rivard, Horticulture; Megan Kennelly, Plant Pathology. Michigan State University: Mary Hausbeck, Plant Pathology; Zsofia Szendra, Entomology. University of Minnesota: Bill Hutchison, Entomology. Lincoln University of Missouri: Touria Eaton, Horticulture. Ohio State University: Celeste Welty, Entomology; Sally Miller, Plant Pathology. Contributors Purdue University: Tom Creswell, Gail Ruhl, Plant Pathology; Wenjing Guan, Horticulture; Amanda Deering, Scott Monroe, Food Science. University of Illinois: Elizabeth Wahle, Horticulture. Iowa State University: Lina Rodriguez-Salamanca, Plant Pathology; Joe Hannan, Horticulture; Laura Jesse Iles, Donald Lewis, Entomology. Kansas State University: Raymond Cloyd, Entomology; Judy O’Mara, Plant Pathology. Michigan State University: Ben Phillips, Vegetable Crops; Fred Warner; Zsofia Szendrei, Entomology; Bernard Zandstra, Weed Science. University of Minnesota: Roger Becker, Agronomy; Carl Rosen, Soil Science; Vince Fritz, Horticulture; Natalie Hoidal, Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education. University of Missouri: James Quinn, Horticulture. Ohio State University: Jim Jasinski, Entomology; Celeste Welty, Entomology. Resource Specialists Purdue University: Ed White, Pesticide Label Information. Iowa State University: Patrick O’Malley, Horticulture. Michigan State University: Ben Werling, Vegetable Crops; Vicki Morrone, Organic Farming; Marisol Quintanilla, Nematologist. University of Minnesota: Anthony Hanson, Entomology; Angela Orshinsky, Plant Pathology; Eric C. Burkness, MN Extension IPM Program. Ohio State University: Brad Bergefurd, Vegetable Crops; David Francis, Matt Kleinhenz, Horticulture and Crop Science; Luis Cañas, Entomology; Gary Gao, Horticulture Extension; Casey Hoy, Entomology; Douglas Doohan, Horticulture and Crop Science. Photos by the contributors, Brian Christie, Mike Kerper, and Elizabeth Wuerffel. 1 Contents Reference Information Page Selected Information About Recommended What’s New in 2019? ............................. 3 Fungicides . 79 State Extension Educators ........................ 4 PHIs and REIs for Fungicides ..................... 83 Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management........... 12 Disease Forecasting Systems ...................... 84 Crop Nutrient Requirements...................... 13 Slug and Snail Control .......................... 84 Macronutrients ................................. 13 Common and Scientific Vegetable Pest Names....... 85 Micronutrients.................................. 14 Crop Recommendations Fertilizer and the Environment.................... 16 Asian Vegetables ................................ 94 Fertilizer Application Methods .................... 16 Asparagus ......................................88 Fertilizer Rates per Linear Bed Foot................ 16 Basil ..................................... 158, 169 Liming and Soil pH.............................. 17 Beet ...........................................214 Transplants Broccoli ...................................... 103 Transplant Production ........................... 23 Brussels Sprouts ............................... 103 Transplant Containers ........................... 24 Cabbage. ......................................103 Seeding and Growing ............................ 24 Cantaloupe ....................................119 Diseases........................................ 25 Carrot ........................................ 214 Seed Treatments................................. 26 Cauliflower ................................... 103 Irrigation, Mulches, Frost Control Celery ......................................... 97 Using Plastic Mulch ............................. 27 Collards .......................................103 Irrigation and Water Management ................. 28 Cowpea ...................................... 173 Frost Control ................................... 30 Cucumber .................................... 119 Pollination Dry Bean ..................................... 173 Bees and Pollination ............................. 30 Eggplant ...................................... 138 Time from Pollination to Market Maturity . 33 Endive ....................................... 158 Pesticide Information and Safety Garlic .........................................189 Precautions with Pesticides ....................... 33 Herbs .................................... 158, 169 Handling Pesticides.............................. 34 Kale ...........................................103 Biopesticides ................................... 37 Leek ......................................... 189 Pesticide Record-Keeping Form ................... 38 Lettuce (Head and Leaf) .........................158 Organic Vegetable Production ................... 39 Lima Bean .....................................173 Production Tables Mint (Peppermint and Spearmint) ................184 Yields of Vegetable Crops......................... 41 Mustard .......................................103 Postharvest Handling and Storage Life ............. 42 Okra ......................................... 187 Conversions for Liquid Pesticides.................. 42 Onion (Bulb and Green) .........................189 Germination and Growing Guide.................. 43 Parsley ....................................... 158 Using a Plant Diagnostic Lab .................... 44 Parsnip ....................................... 214 Selected University Laboratory Services ............ 45 Pea .......................................... 173 Farm Labor Law Information .................... 47 Pepper ....................................... 141 Produce Food Safety ............................ 48 Potato ........................................ 199 Insect Management Pumpkin ..................................... 114 Insect Management Strategies ..................... 51 Radish ........................................214 Selected Information About Recommended Rhubarb ...................................... 211 Insecticides .................................. 54 Rutabaga ..................................... 214 PHIs and REIs for Insecticides .................... 57 Snap Bean .....................................173 Plant-parasitic Nematode Management ........... 58 Spinach ....................................... 158 Weed Management Squash ........................................114 Weed Management Strategies ..................... 61 Sweet Corn ................................... 223 Herbicide Effectiveness........................... 68 Sweet Potato .................................
Recommended publications
  • Snap Pea Salad Cream of Asparagus Soup
    Snap Pea Salad Cream of Asparagus Soup Serves 4. Serves 4. Ingredients: Ingredients: Lemon vinaigrette (recipe follows) 2 pounds asparagus 1 pound sugar snap peas, trimmed and strings 1 Tablespoon butter removed 1 medium onion 3 ounces spring greens 4 cups reduced sodium chicken broth 2 Tablespoons low fat sour cream or yogurt Lemon Vinaigrette: Salt and pepper, to taste 3 Tablespoons olive oil 3 Tablespoons lemon Directions: juice, preferably fresh 1 teaspoon fresh or ½ 1. Wash asparagus. Remove tough ends. Cut teaspoon dried oregano in half. 1 garlic clove, minced 2. Melt butter in a large saucepan. Add onion and cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Directions: 3. Add asparagus and chicken stock to saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover and cook on 1. Lemon Vinaigrette: In a small jar or bowl, low for about 20 minutes or until tender. combine all ingredients. Cover and set Remove from heat. Using either a blender or aside. This can be made one day in immersion blender, puree until smooth. advance. Refrigerate until ready to use. 4. Top each serving with one teaspoon of sour 2. Wash and trim the peas. Slice in half on the cream or yogurt. diagonal. Set aside. Wash and dry greens. 3. Fill a 2-quart sauce pan half-full with water. Note: If using a blender, you will need to blend in Cover and bring to a boil. two batches. Since hot liquids expand, hold a 4. Add beans and blanch for 2 minutes. Drain. towel over the blender. Cover in cold water. Drain. 5. Stir together the vinaigrette.
    [Show full text]
  • North Dakota Department of Agriculture $2605577.54 (Pdf)
    FY15 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program- Farm Bill North Dakota Department of Agriculture Final Performance Report USDA Agreement # 15-SCBGP-ND-0026 CONTACT: Deanna Gierszewski, Specialty Crop Grant Administrator 600 E Boulevard Ave #602 Bismarck, ND 58505-0020 Phone: (701) 328-2191 Email: [email protected] Submitted: November 16, 2018 Resubmitted: January 29, 2019 Table of Contents: 1. Enhancing the Safe Use of Specialty Fruit and Vegetable Crops from Field to Table .......3 2. Development of improved fungicide application strategies for managing Sclerotinia head rot in confection sunflowers...............................................................................................10 3. Pea and Lentil Market Analysis .........................................................................................14 4. Optimizing agronomic practices for faba bean production in North Dakota.....................17 5. Optimizing fungicide application strategies for improved management of Sclerotinia in dry edible beans .................................................................................................................21 6. Enhancing Tree Selection and Evaluating Tree Species in Western North Dakota ..........26 7. State-wide screening of green foxtail for herbicide resistance ..........................................32 8. Identification of Pathogen, Soil and Plant Factors Important to Root Rot Development in Field Pea.............................................................................................................................35
    [Show full text]
  • Seed Catalog V3
    Stillwater Valley Farm Seedlisting 2021 Hello and welcome to my third annual attempt at a descriptive catalog/formal seedlisting! In the past I have only used namelistings of seed, expecting that buyers do their own homework – but it is my hope that the descriptions on these pages will be of assistance, especially to those who may simply be curious. The purpose of this first page is to establish background and “ground rules”. I have always been a “farmer” ever since chewing down dirty carrots in my dad‟s garden, though I entered into seedkeeping after college. My beliefs and educational background established indigenous causes as something close to my heart, and beyond my basic self-sufficiency desires, the connection I feel to my seed is spiritual. It is something I take extremely seriously. I am not in this for profit; I am in this as “heart work” and a calling. I am a lone, economically challenged grower and I process and ship all of my seed by hand with no help. Therefore, I do not have a system for „buy it now‟ seeds and everything here is subject to my own whims and is only based on what I personally grow and provide. If you wish to obtain samples, these details will explain how. I understand they are long, but I ask you to read and respect them all. Informationals: – Varieties are offered in small quantities. I cannot provide poundage; please don‟t ask. A normal distribution of corn is approx. 200 seeds. A normal bean distribution is 20-30.
    [Show full text]
  • The Quality of Leguminous Vegetables As Influenced by Preharvest Factors
    Scientia Horticulturae 232 (2018) 191–205 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Scientia Horticulturae journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/scihorti The quality of leguminous vegetables as influenced by preharvest factors T Georgia Ntatsia, Marcos Egea Gutiérrez-Cortinesb, Ioannis Karapanosa, Ana Barrosc, Julia Weissb, ⁎ Astrit Balliud, Eduardo Augusto dos Santos Rosac, Dimitrios Savvasa, a Agricultural University of Athens, Faculty of Plant Sciences, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece b Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Instituto de Biotecnología Vegetal, 30202 Cartagena, Spain c Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, (CITAB-UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal d Agricultural University of Tirana, Department of Horticultural & Landscape Architecture, Koder Kamez 1029, Tirana, Albania ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: The cultivation of most legumes, aims to the production of either dry seeds consumed by humans, also known as Chemical composition pulses, or animal fodder. However, some legumes are cultivated for fresh consumption either as pods or as Human health immature seeds. The economically most important legumes consumed as vegetables are green pods of common Legume bean, cowpea, faba bean, snow pea (mangetout) and green pea seeds. As a rule, the legume vegetables are Morphological traits consumed after cooking and in many countries, they may be used to cover primary nutritional needs, because Nutritive value their protein content is high in comparison with most other vegetables. Furthermore, the legume vegetables, Quality Vegetable which have distinct organoleptic properties when compared to pulses, are also considered important sources of carbohydrates, essential minerals, vitamins, several other antioxidants and health promoting compounds, and dietary fiber.
    [Show full text]
  • Filamentous Fungi and Yeasts Associated with Mites Phoretic on Ips Typographus in Eastern Finland
    Jukuri, open repository of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) This is an electronic reprint of the original article. This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Author(s): Riikka Linnakoski, Ilmeini Lasarov, Pyry Veteli, Olli-Pekka Tikkanen, Heli Viiri, Tuula Jyske, Risto Kasanen, Tuan A. Duong and Michael J. Wingfield Title: Filamentous Fungi and Yeasts Associated with Mites Phoretic on Ips typographus in Eastern Finland Year: 2021 Version: Publisher’s version Copyright: The author(s) 2021 Rights: CC BY Rights url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Please cite the original version: Linnakoski, R.; Lasarov, I.; Veteli, P.; Tikkanen, O.-P.; Viiri, H.; Jyske, T.; Kasanen, R.; Duong, T.A.; Wingfield, M.J. Filamentous Fungi and Yeasts Associated with Mites Phoretic on Ips typographus in Eastern Finland. Forests 2021, 12, 743. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12060743 All material supplied via Jukuri is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights. Duplication or sale, in electronic or print form, of any part of the repository collections is prohibited. Making electronic or print copies of the material is permitted only for your own personal use or for educational purposes. For other purposes, this article may be used in accordance with the publisher’s terms. There may be differences between this version and the publisher’s version. You are advised to cite the publisher’s version. Article Filamentous Fungi and Yeasts Associated with Mites Phoretic on Ips typographus in Eastern Finland Riikka Linnakoski 1,* , Ilmeini Lasarov 2, Pyry Veteli 1, Olli-Pekka Tikkanen 2, Heli Viiri 3 , Tuula Jyske 1, Risto Kasanen 4, Tuan A.
    [Show full text]
  • Get to Know: Snap Peas
    Get to know: Snap Peas Snap peas (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon), also known as sugar snap peas, are a cultivar group of edible-podded peas that differ from snow peas in that their pods are round as opposed to flat. Snap peas, like all other peas, are pod fruits. An edible-podded pea is similar to a garden, or English, pea, but the pod is less fibrous, and edible when young. Pods of the edible-podded pea, including snap peas, do not have a membrane and do not open when ripe. Before being eaten, mature snap pea pods may need to be "stringed," which means the membranous string running along the top of the pod from base to tip is removed. Nutrition One cup (100g) of snap peas has 41 calories, 7.4g of carbohydrates, 2.5g of fibre, and 2.7g of protein. With 41 calories per 1-cup cooked serving, snap peas fill you up without costing you too many calories. If you're trying to control your calorie intake to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, foods like snap peas make a good choice. Facts The snap pea is a cool season legume or fruit, cultivated for more than 5 000 years. The name mangetout (French for "eat all") can apply both to snap peas and snow peas. Health Benefits Snap peas are very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. They are also a good source of Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Pantothenic Acid, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Potassium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Thiamin, Folate, Iron and Manganese.
    [Show full text]
  • Peas Love Cool Weather
    Peas Love Cool Weather. Plant Soon For A Spring Crop! Peas are frost tolerant and germinate best in cool soil, so they should be planted in very early spring as soon as your garden soil is workable. Optimum soil temperature for pea germination is 40 to 70° F. If the soil is too cold (below 40 degrees), seeds take much longer to germinate and may rot. If soil temperatures are too high, germination stops. Check soil temperature reports for your location from the Nebraska State Climate Office online at Nebraska Extension’s Hort Update website, http://hortupdate.unl.edu.) Soil temperatures should be perfect later this week for planting peas. There are three types of peas and the difference among them lies in the way you eat them. The types are English peas, snow peas, and snap peas. Botanically, they all are varieties of Pisum sativum (Pie-sum suh-tie-vum) and belong to the legume family, as do beans. Pisum comes from the Latin for pea; sativum refers to cultivated. Snow peas, grown in Asia for centuries and always popular for their flat, edible pods, are P. sativum var. macrocarpon. Snap peas, such as the original 'Sugar Snap,' may be the result of a fortuitous, natural cross between snow peas and English peas. Growing Peas To grow peas in your vegetable garden, select a site in full sun, one that receives at least six hours of direct sun daily. Peas grow well in almost any kind of soil but they do best in a fertile, somewhat sandy soil with good drainage.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluation of Winter-Killed Cover Crops Preceding Snap Pea
    Evaluation of Winter-killed Cover Crops Preceding Snap Pea Orion P. Grimmer and John B. Masiunas1 ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. barley, Hor- deum vulgare, oat, Avena sativa, snap pea, Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon, white mustard, Brassica hirta, weed control SUMMARY. Winter-killed cover crops may protect the soil surface from ero- sion and reduce herbicide use in an early planted crop such as pea (Pisum sativum). Our objective was to deter- mine the potential of winter-killed cover crops in a snap pea produc- tion system. White mustard (Brassica hirta) produced the most residue in the fall but retained only 37% of that residue into the spring. Barley (Hor- deum vulgare) and oats (Avena sativa) produced less fall residue but had more residue and ground cover in the spring. Greater ground cover in the spring facilitated higher soil moisture, contributing to higher weed numbers and weight and lower pea yields for oat and barley compared with a bare ground treatment. White mustard had weed populations and pea yields similar to the bare ground treat- ment. Within the weed-free subplot, no differences in pea yields existed among cover crop treatments, indicat- ing no direct interference with pea growth by the residues. In greenhouse experiments, fi eld-grown oat and barley residue suppressed greater than 50% of the germination of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) and shepherd’s-purse (Capsella bursa- pastoris), while in the fi eld none of the cover crop provided better weed control than the fallow. Department of Natural Resources and Environmen- tal Sciences, University of Illinois, 260 Edward R.
    [Show full text]
  • Fragments of ATP Synthase Mediate Plant Perception of Insect Attack
    Fragments of ATP synthase mediate plant perception of insect attack Eric A. Schmelz†, Mark J. Carroll, Sherry LeClere, Stephen M. Phipps, Julia Meredith, Prem S. Chourey, Hans T. Alborn, and Peter E. A. Teal Center of Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, Chemistry Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1600 Southwest 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608 Edited by May R. Berenbaum, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL, and approved April 21, 2006 (received for review March 22, 2006) Plants can perceive a wide range of biotic attackers and respond membrane protein remains unidentified (14). Alternatively, with targeted induced defenses. Specificity in plant non-self- plants may also indirectly perceive biotic attack. For example, recognition occurs either directly by perception of pest-derived proteases released from phytopathogenic bacteria type-III se- elicitors or indirectly through resistance protein recognition of host cretion systems have been demonstrated to cleave specific host targets that are inappropriately proteolyzed. Indirect plant per- targets, resulting in biochemical defects that in turn are recog- ception can occur during interactions with pathogens, yet evidence nized by resistance proteins (R proteins) (3–5). Unlike plant for analogous events mediating the detection of insect herbivores pathogens, the analogous indirect perception of insect attack is remains elusive. Here we report indirect perception of herbivory in unknown. cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) plants attacked by fall armyworm Efforts to understand plant perception of insect herbivory (Spodoptera frugiperda) larvae. We isolated and identified a dis- demonstrated that FAC elicitors possessed little or no volatile ulfide-bridged peptide (؉ICDINGVCVDA؊), termed inceptin, from S.
    [Show full text]
  • Snow Peas and Sugar Snap Peas
    Snow Peas and Sugar Snap Peas Strategic Agrichemical Review Process 2011-2014 HAL Projects - MT10029 & VG12081 AgAware Consulting Pty Ltd Checkbox 3D Pty Ltd February 2014 Horticulture Australia project no: MT10029 – Managing pesticide access in horticulture. VG12081 - Review of vegetable SARP reports. Contact: Noelene Davis Checkbox 3D Pty Ltd PO Box 187 Beecroft NSW 2119 Ph: 0424 625 267 Email: [email protected] Purpose of the report: This report was funded by Horticulture Australia and the Australian vegetable industry to investigate the pest problem, agrichemical usage and pest management alternatives for the snow pea and sugar snap pea industry across Australia. The information in this report will assist the industry with its agrichemical selection and usage into the future. Funding sources: MT10029 - This project has been funded by HAL using the vegetable industry levy and across industry funds with matched funds from the Australian Government. VG12081 - This project has been funded by HAL using the vegetable industry levy and matched funds from the Australian Government. Date of report: 18 February 2014 Disclaimer: Any recommendations contained in this publication do not necessarily represent current Horticulture Australia Ltd policy. No person should act on the basis of the contents of this publication without first obtaining independent professional advice in respect of the matters set out in this publication. Contents 1. Media Summary ........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • EU Project Number 613678
    EU project number 613678 Strategies to develop effective, innovative and practical approaches to protect major European fruit crops from pests and pathogens Work package 1. Pathways of introduction of fruit pests and pathogens Deliverable 1.3. PART 7 - REPORT on Oranges and Mandarins – Fruit pathway and Alert List Partners involved: EPPO (Grousset F, Petter F, Suffert M) and JKI (Steffen K, Wilstermann A, Schrader G). This document should be cited as ‘Grousset F, Wistermann A, Steffen K, Petter F, Schrader G, Suffert M (2016) DROPSA Deliverable 1.3 Report for Oranges and Mandarins – Fruit pathway and Alert List’. An Excel file containing supporting information is available at https://upload.eppo.int/download/112o3f5b0c014 DROPSA is funded by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration (grant agreement no. 613678). www.dropsaproject.eu [email protected] DROPSA DELIVERABLE REPORT on ORANGES AND MANDARINS – Fruit pathway and Alert List 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Background on oranges and mandarins ..................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Data on production and trade of orange and mandarin fruit ........................................................................ 5 1.3 Characteristics of the pathway ‘orange and mandarin fruit’ .......................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Managing the Mint Bud Mite in Peppermint in the Midwest
    Managing the Mint Bud Mite on Peppermint in the Midwest The mint bud mite, Tarsonemus sp., is a highly destruc- tive pest of Midwestern peppermint. Mint bud mite infesta- tions are typically associated with older stands of peppermint and can result in dramatic reductions in the yield of essential oils. Symptoms, which first appear in mid season, consist of shortened terminal internodes, curling of new leaves and a twisting or puckering of apical buds. This collection of symp- toms is commonly referred to as “squirrelly mint”. However, symptoms are not always readily apparent and mint that looks healthy and productive can have reduced oil yields of 60- 80%. Spearmint is less severely damaged but older stands can also sustain high mint bud mite populations and exhibit oil loss. Over the past ten years researchers at the Universities of Purdue and Wisconsin have attempted to determine effective management techniques for the control of the mint bud mite. This guide attempts to summarize those research efforts; pro- viding growers with a background in mint bud mite biology as well as offering advice on proper scouting and treatment options. The contents of this publication are aimed primarily at peppermint production but also apply to spearmint except where mentioned directly. Description of the Mint Bud Mite History of the Mint Bud Mite The bud mite undergoes four distinct life stages during To understand the history of the mint bud mite it is development; egg, larva, pupa and adult. important to begin with the phenomenon known as squirrelly Eggs mint. Squirrelly mint is a disorder found primarily in mature Eggs are clear to milky-white in color, oblong in shape peppermint fields and, when severe, results in stunted plant and relatively large, about 75% the size of the adult female.
    [Show full text]