Milder temperatures have been beneficial for the development of crops. Squash vine borers and Colorado potato beetles are becoming active in the area.
Posted on June 11, 2014 by Lina Rodriguez Salamanca, Michigan State University Extension
Weather
In the past week, rainfall recorded in Southeast Michigan averaged 0.35 inches. The Michigan State University Petersburg Enviro-weather station recorded 0.45 inches of rain while the Romeo Enviro-weather station recorded 0.15 inches. Air temperatures in the Southeast have ranged from 46 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with mostly sunny days.
Based on the average of the Southeast Enviro-weather stations, we currently have reached 558 growing degree days (GDD) base 50 F with a maximum of 594 GDD at the Petersburg Enviro-weather station, which is behind by 83 GDD when compared with the five-year average.
Regional GDDs for the Southeast Michigan region via MSU Enviro-weather
Weather outlook
Temperatures are forecasted to range from 47 to 81 F over the next week, with chances of rain Wednesday and Thursday, June 11-12 (90 and 60 percent respectively), and lower chances of rain Friday to Sunday, June 13-15.
Vegetable crops
Harvest of mustard, turnips, broccoli and radishes continues. Broccoli being harvested has 5 to 10 percent of the plant population producing flowers (bolted) due to the unusual warm spell during spring.
Early transplanted cabbage is forming heads. Insecticide treatments have been efficacious in managing flea beetles and cole crop caterpillars. Cabbage maggots continue to be problematic in some fields.
Yellow squash and zucchini harvest has begun. An adult squash vine borer was captured in the Monroe County traps. Cucumbers are flowering and bearing 1- to 2-inch fruit, and no cucurbit downy mildew has been detected at this time. However, Michigan State University Extension advises growers to continue scouting for cucurbit downy mildew symptoms. The cucurbit downy mildew epidemic has advanced to North Carolina this week, according to the Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecasting website.
Pumpkin planting and germination continues, while cantaloupe and watermelon plants continue to develop vines, but no flowers have been observed yet.
Early planted sweet corn is starting to tassel, and low risk for corn earworm has been forecasted to the south, according to www.cnchemicals.com/.
Very low numbers of Colorado potato beetles have been observed in potato fields and potato volunteers, but adults are becoming more active. Cercospora symptoms have been observed on table beets.
For more information on commercial vegetable production, contact Lina Rodriguez Salamanca at 517-264-5310 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).
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