Cooperative Extension at Highmoor Farm

Mesonet Updates! The Maine Mesonet has recently grown by four stations, which you can check out on the Maine Climate Office Mesonet page. The new stations are located in Walpole, Hope, Sidney, and Presque Isle. The two midcoast stations have been linked to NEWA, and Sidney and Presque Isle will appear as NEWA locations soon. […]

Scapes have been harvested throughout southern and central Maine, and garlic crops look good for mid to late July harvest. Bulbs will continue to develop over the next week or two, then begin to senesce. Harvest is typically 3-4 weeks after scaping. It is advisable to stop irrigating two weeks before harvest so as to […]

Thrips numbers were up in Topsham and Washington this week, but down in Buxton and Monmouth, and all locations are below a 1 thrips per leaf threshold. These insect populations thrive in hot and dry conditions, so while this week’s weather may have encouraged their development, the next week of rain and cooler temperatures will […]

Scapes are beginning to emerge in southern Maine as high temperatures pushed plant development this week. Those same high temperatures paired with recent precipitation and lingering humidity favor the development of purple blotch and Stemphylium leaf blight, which we have seen evidence of at all scouting locations. Onion thrips were also observed in low numbers […]

Much of Maine has enjoyed a nice stretch of warm and dry weather heading into the weekend. Garlic is developing nicely at all scouting locations. The NEWA onion disease forecast remains clear for Maine locations through June 9, but keep in mind that this updates with the weather forecasts, which have been erratic. Check these […]

Good growing conditions have continued, with moderate rainfall and warming temperatures encouraging the start of garlic bulb development. No major new diseases, or progressions in foliar diseases, have been observed at any scouting locations, and plants are generally healthy. Insect Pests With several recent warm spells, growing degree days (GDDs) that drive insect development are […]

Warmer weather conditions over the last week have encouraged good garlic growth at all scouting locations, and plants will soon begin bulbing. Now is the time to apply the final nitrogen sidedress of 40 lb N per acre (or about 0.09 lb N per 100 sq ft). This will support the last of the plants’ […]

Cool, wet weather has not slowed garlic growth at scouting locations in Buxton, Topsham, or Washington, and plants are generally healthy with about 5-7 leaves each. Some infrequent emergence issues are being investigated and are likely the result of mites or Fusarium, both of which were highlighted in last week’s newsletter on spotty emergence. What […]

As you scout your garlic, you may notice areas where plants haven’t emerged or where young foliage is distorted. Unfortunately, there are several possible causes for this erratic emergence and growth. That is because the growing point of garlic is its basal plate, where the roots meet the fleshy clove. When the growing point is […]

Garlic crops are off to a healthy start for the 2026 growing season. Rain is in the forecast, which is much needed in areas still under severe drought in Maine, but this may be conducive to foliar pathogens and clove rots. It is time to begin scouting garlic to ensure that any problems are identified […]