Cucumber and watermelon growers should begin applying targeted cucurbit downy mildew (CDM) fungicides now. CDM was reported yesterday and today in Pennsylvania and northern Ohio on cucumber and watermelon, and with a storm forecast for Thursday, spores from these areas could soon arrive in Massachusetts. Growers should already be regularly applying preventative materials (chlorothalonil or […]
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We are sharing the following information provided by Tommy Higgins, State Executive Director, Maine Farm Service Agency. As of Thursday, September 18, six counties in Maine are now classified as D3 (Extreme Drought): Cumberland, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Franklin, Somerset, and Oxford. In addition, our coastal counties stretching from Washington to Lincoln have remained in D2 (Severe […]
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Cucurbit downy mildew (CDM) symptoms were confirmed on Friday, July 25th in Franklin County, MA. All cucurbits are susceptible to this disease, with cucumbers and melons most at risk. So far this season there are no nearby outbreaks affecting pumpkins or squash. If you have not added DM-targeted fungicides to your spray program already you […]
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Maine Produce Safety Improvement Grants (MPSIG) help specialty crop growers i.e, growers of fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture but excluding commodity crops) to: Implement on-farm food safety practices; Transition to compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR); Meet market demands for on-farm […]
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While strawberries have long been a staple of spring crops in Maine, the plants are not especially hardy. As an herbaceous, or non-woody plant, strawberries don’t achieve what is considered a true state of dormancy during the winter. Rather, they go into a quiescent state, or pseudo-dormancy which offers some protection against extreme temperatures, but […]
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Why? Highbush blueberry bushes should be pruned every year to produce regular crops of good quality fruit. Good pruning opens up the bush to more light and air movement, which will reduce disease problems. It also improves berry flavor and size and encourages earlier ripening. When? Prune the plants when they are fully dormant, in […]
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Researchers at Highmoor have summarized their tarping research with colleagues from Cornell University in this new research paper. To read the full article, click on the image below.
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Although strawberries have long been grown successfully in Maine, they are not particularly hardy plants. However, because of the low growth habit of the plants, and their tendency to grow in protected areas near wood lines in the wild, they are often covered with leaves and snow during the coldest parts of the winter, which […]
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Frost Protection Tips For Strawberries A significant frost/freeze event has the potential to injure and kill susceptible strawberry flowers and buds. Growers should be ready to protect their plants with irrigation and/or row covers. Check your pump, pipes and sprinkler heads to be sure that they are all in good working order and ready to use […]
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