Cucurbits

Authors: Qianwen Lu - Neith Little

Heat stress is a common summer problem for crop production and is worsened by rising temperatures and urban heat island effects. This extension brief introduces symptoms of crops impacted by heat stress and tips to mitigate crop heat stress. Authors: Qianwen Lu and Neith Little; Title: Reducing Crop Heat Stress in Urban Farms (EBR-2024-0720).

The recommendations are intended for the commercial vegetable grower who has to make numerous managerial decisions. Although the proper choices of variety, pesticides, equipment, irrigation, fertilizer, and cultural practices are the individual vegetable grower’s responsibility, it is intended that these recommendations will facilitate decision-making. Recommended planting dates will vary across the six-state region. Local weather conditions, grower experience, and variety may facilitate successful harvest on crops planted outside the planting dates listed in this guide. This can be evaluated in consultation with the local agents and state specialists. Government agencies and other organizations administrating crop insurance programs or other support programs should contact local Extension agents and/or vegetable specialists for guidance. EB-236