Vegetable and Fruit News-August 2023

Weird Problem in Cantaloupe Fruit

by Jerry Brust, UME and Karen Rane, Director University of Maryland Plant Clinic

There have been some strange happenings in vegetable/fruit fields this season. The latest one is with cantaloup fruit. The fruit looks good when examining it from the outside, but cutting it open reveals an interior that has a dark, wet appearance in the fruit’s wall between the outer rind and the...Read more about Weird Problem in Cantaloupe Fruit.

Leafhopper damage found on fruit and vegetables

By Jerry Brust, UME

Potato leafhoppers Empoasca fabae started showing up early in the season in our area in unexpected numbers and now they are showing up again in vegetables (eggplant, beans) fruit crops (raspberries) and hops where they are causing some problems (figs. 1, 2, 3). Unlike earlier in the season when most...Read more about Leafhopper damage found on fruit and vegetables.

Causes and Prevention of Chilling Injury in Honeycrisp Apples

Arantza Miroquesada, Candidate for B.S. in Physiology and Neurobiology, and Macarena Farcuh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, University of Maryland

What is chilling injury and how is it expressed in Honeycrisp apples?

Honeycrisp apples are highly susceptible to the development of physiological disorders. Physiological disorders are abnormalities that can occur within different fruit tissues that are not caused by pests or mechanical damage but are commonly caused by...Read more about Causes and Prevention of Chilling Injury in Honeycrisp Apples.

Strawberries and Fall Nitrogen

By Haley Sater, UME Agriculture Agent Wicomico County

As summer weather begins to wane giving rise to cooler daytime temperatures it’s time to either get strawberries planted for spring or maintain carry over strawberries which means it’s time to think about fall nitrogen application. The success of a spring strawberry...Read more about Strawberries and Fall Nitrogen.

Unusually High Spotted-Wing Drosophila Pressure

By Kathy Demchak, Senior Extension Associate, Department of Plant Science, Penn State University, and Kelly Hamby, Associate Professor/Extension Specialist UMD

The invasive spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) is the key insect pest of soft-skinned fruit across the United States. With the recent wet weather, we have been experiencing higher than normal spotted wing drosophila (SWD) pressure. Depending on the intensity and amount, rain also substantially...Read more about Unusually High Spotted-Wing Drosophila Pressure.

Cover Cropping is a Necessary Tool for Vegetable Growers

By Gordon Johnson, Retired Extension Specialist * Note this Article first appeared on UD Weekly Crop Update on August 4*

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