Squash vine borer moth captures ( 2nd generation flight) are reported to be dropping to zero in NH. However, borers from 2nd flight are likely feeding now, and can attack pumpkin fruit as well as vines.
Voles pose a threat to beet, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, spinach, sweet potato, tomato, and turnip, in the field and in high tunnels. They are active day and night, year-round. Voles prefer areas with dense vegetation where they dig short, shallow burrows and make underground nests. Watch for signs of activity such as droppings, pathways in the grass, tunnels, and crop damage.
Winter squash and pumpkin harvest: insect, disease, cold, and wet conditions threaten crops in the field. Get your crew out to harvest as soon as crops are mature, and whenever Nature offers a good window. If you have to bring in bins of wet squash, crank up the fans and open the vents to be sure it dries well. Take preventative measures to avoid rodent damage.
Winter rye scavenges leftover nitrogen from summer crops, but this ability declines with later seeding dates. Don’t delay in getting fields seeded. We’ve seen excellent crops of oat and sorghum-sudangrass — bright green from dining on leftover fertility.
Flea beetle damage seems to be on the rise again, after a lull in late August and early September. This is likely the emergence of the adult offspring of beetles that were active in July and early August. Feeding may be intense for a while, but will likely drop off as beetles depart for safe winter quarters, underneath leaves and grass in field edges.
Sweet corn harvest is not over yet for those who make this crop a feature of their farmstand or wholesale operation. Corn earworm flight across eastern MA and southern NH ranged from 2-6 moths per week, calling for a 5 or 6 day spray schedule. Trap data from other areas is not available except for a capture of 0 moths at one location in the CT River Valley. Watch for fall armyworm in the latest blocks; this pest showed up late this year but did some damage in SE MA in late-whorl stage corn.
Fall wheat, a crop of growing interest among vegetable growers, should be planted within the next week or two for good fall establishment. Universities of Vermont and Maine offer good resources on wheat production. Look for seed that is free of disease, as this can carry over to next year’s crop.
Late blight was confirmed on potato foliage in Franklin and Worcester Counties, MA this week. Any remaining potato foliage should be scouted immediately. Uninfected foliage should be sprayed to prevent disease onset (for treatment options see the New England Vegetable Management Guide), or foliage should be killed, mowed, or tubers harvested immediately. Please report any suspicious potato foliage or tubers to your local extension office; the pathogen can overwinter on infected potato tubers so tracking these potential inoculum sources will contribute to understanding and preparing for late blight management next year.
On tomato the disease continues to spread across New England. Conditions remain extremely conducive in Western parts of the state while disease spread has been slower in the east due to drier conditions there (see Table 1). Growers who have been keeping up regular spray programs report continued clean harvests and many resistant varieties have continued to hold up.
Source:extension.umass.edu