Life Sciences Commons^™

No-Till Pumpkin And Winter Squash After Winter Rye Cover Crop, Northern Indiana, 2020, Elizabeth Maynard

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

No-till planting of pumpkin into a killed winter rye cover crop is a system used by growers in a number of states, including Indiana. Advantages mentioned by producers in addition to soil health benefits from the cover crop include cleaner pumpkins at harvest, and in rainy seasons, less mud in the field making a more pleasant experience for customers who pick pumpkins right from the field. This paper reports on a project to develop a workable no-till system at a university research farm that can be used for demonstration and in future research to better understand and improve production practices. …

2020 Seedless Pickling Cucumber Variety Trial, Ben Phillips, Hilda Mcshane

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

A pickling cucumber variety trial was planted at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center (43.399097, -83.694497, Frankenmuth, Michigan). Bejo (BJ), Nunhems (NU), and Rijk Zwaan (RZ) seed companies donated parthenocarpic (seedless) varieties for mechanical once-over harvest.

Response Of Pepper And Tomato To Six Nitrogen Rates, Ron G. Goldy

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

A surprising lack of statistical difference was found for most metrics measured. Similar total yield was found across all fertilizer levels tested for tomato, and for the 100 to 300 pounds nitrogen/acre for peppers, only the 350 pound/acre level had lower total yield. Pepper plant height was stunted by higher nitrogen levels. This lack of differences may indicate that the important factor in nitrogen (and perhaps other nutrients) application is not in how much is applied, but more on how it is applied, especially in conjunction with how the plants are irrigated.

Evaluation Of 19 Specialty Pepper Cultivars In Southwest Michigan, Ron G. Goldy

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

All entries evaluated proved to have commercial potential in their category for production in Southwest Michigan. Pepper types with sufficient entries were subjected to statistical analysis for entries within that type. Significant statistical differences were found for the traits evaluated with lunchbox-types showing the largest differences while jalapeno entries showed the least.

Yield Of Eight Summer Squash Varieties In Southwest Michigan, Ron G. Goldy

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

The seven zucchini squash evaluated ranged in total yield from 1432 to 1798 half-bushels/acre. All seven entries were statistically similar in total yield, however differences were found in yield of small, medium, large, and cull fruit. Each entry has commercial potential in Southwest Michigan, especially if they have virus tolerance. One yellow squash (Blonde Beauty) was also in the trial but not included in statistical evaluation.

Performance Of 20 Bell Pepper Cultivars In Southwest Michigan, Ron G. Goldy

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Differences in all traits measured were found in the 20 entries. Total yield ranged from 745 to 1125 – 1.25-bushel cartons/acre, a range that is somewhat lower than expected due to late planting and high temperatures shortly after transplanting and during fruit maturation. Four entries, 10374 (PanAmerican Seeds), 10868 (PanAmerican Seeds), USAP17699 USAgri Seeds), and Regulator (Enza Zaden) stood out as strong possibilities for growers to plant for commercial production.

Pumpkin Cultivar Evaluation For Eastern Minnesota 2019, Annie Klodd, Rod Elmstrand

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

This trial compared the performance of 32 pumpkin varieties, including new cultivars and cultivars commonly grown in Minnesota, under minimal-till conditions in east-central Minnesota. Yield, average fruit weight, fruit weight variability, tons per acre, fruit per acre, and handle length were evaluated and reported for each variety.

Evaluation Of ‘Mortgage Lifter’ Tomato For High Tunnel Production, Lewis Jett

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

The ‘Mortgage Lifter’ tomato has historical roots in West Virginia and central Appalachia. The strain which is most often associated with West Virginia is the ‘Radiator Charlie Mortgage Lifter’ which is a red to pink beefsteak slicing tomato (Figure 1). In 2018, several heritage tomato varieties were evaluated within high tunnels in West Virginia. High Tunnels significantly improved yield and quality of all varieties, and ‘Mortgage Lifter’ had marketable yields comparable to hybrid tomato cultivars. Wholesale marketing high tunnel tomatoes is usually not profitable but concentrating on unique, heritage varieties with high flavor for direct marketing is the best strategy …

2019 Seedless Pickling Cucumber Variety Trial, Ben Phillips

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

A pickling cucumber variety trial was planted at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center (43.399097, -83.694497, Frankenmuth, Michigan). Bejo (BJ), Nunhems (NU), and Rijk Zwaan (RZ) seed companies donated parthenocarpic (seedless) varieties.

2019 Standard-Size And Personal-Size Triploid Watermelon Variety Evaluation In Indiana, Wenjing Guan, Dennis Nowaskie, Thomas D H Haseman, Dan Egel

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Indiana is one of the major watermelon production states in the U.S. Forty standard-size seedless watermelon varieties and 17 personal-size varieties were evaluated in southwest Indiana in 2019. Yield and quality information of the varieties were discussed.

Cantaloupe And Specialty Melon Variety Evaluation In Indiana, Wenjing Guan, Dennis Nowaskie, Petrus Langenhoven, Daniel S. Egel

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Thirty melon varieties including traditional eastern-type cantaloupe, non-slip muskmelon, honeydew, and other specialty type melons were evaluated in a field trial at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC) in Vincennes, IN in 2019. Yield and fruit quality attributes including fruit size, total soluble solids, firmness, etc., were recorded. This study identified promising melon cultivars for growing under Midwest open-field conditions.

Asparagus Cultivar Trial – Selinsgrove, Pa, Carl Cantaluppi

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

This paper reports on yields of three asparagus varieties in Pennsylvania harvested one year after planting one-year-old crowns.

2020 Standard-Size And Personal-Size Triploid Watermelon Variety Evaluation In Indiana, Wenjing Guan, Dan Egel, Dennis Nowaskie, Thomas D H Haseman

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Indiana ranks sixth in harvested watermelon acreage in the US. A total of 6,500 acres of watermelons were planted in Indiana in 2019 with a total production value of $35 million (USDA 2020). Variety selection based on yield, disease resistance and fruit quality are some of the key decisions in watermelon production. The objective of this study is to provide watermelon producers, as well as seed companies, with the updated information on the performance of watermelon varieties grown in Indiana. Thirty standard-size triploid watermelons and 12 personal-size triploid watermelons were evaluated at Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center in the watermelon season …

Spring Black Rot-Resistant Cabbage Cultivar Evaluation, Chris Smigell, John Strang, John Snyder

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

No abstract provided.

Summer Squash Variety Evaluation For Early-Season Production In High Tunnels, Wenjing Guan

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Crops that can set fruit without pollination have an advantage for early-season high tunnel production. With a diverse fruit shape and color, summer squash is a valuable crop providing diversity, especially for the early farmers market. Six selected summer squash cultivars that are either indicated as parthenocarpic cultivar in seed catalogs or showed high capability to set fruit without pollination in the previous study were evaluated in a high tunnel trial in spring 2018 at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, Vincennes, IN.

2020 Cantaloupe Variety Evaluation In Southern Indiana, Wenjing Guan, Dan Egel, Dennis Nowaskie, Thomas D H Haseman

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Indiana ranks sixth in cantaloupe production in the US. A total of 1,800 acres of cantaloupes were planted in Indiana with a production value of $8.6 million in 2018. Melon produced in Indiana is primarily eastern-type cantaloupes. Recently, extended shelf life varieties have been developed and are becoming attractive in the eastern market. This report compared the yield and quality of seven cantaloupe varieties grown in southern Indiana.

A presentation of this trial is available at https://mediaspace.itap.purdue.edu/media/MVTR+2020+cantaloupe+variety+evaluation+in+southern+Indiana/1_pyaa792t

2020 Pumpkin Variety Trial, Nathan R. Johanning

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

In 2020, the University of Illinois Extension conducted an observational pumpkin variety trial in southern Illinois at the Southern Illinois University Belleville Research Center, in Belleville, IL. The trial was a single replication including 54 pumpkin and winter squash varieties divided into 2 categories: Specialty and Jack O’Lantern. Specialty Pumpkins included anything of “carving size” and colors other than orange (white, red, blue, warted, etc.) and included some large specialty pumpkins (over 25 lb) The Jack O’Lantern pumpkins were also grouped as Medium (under 25 lbs) and Large (over 25 lbs). Pumpkins were grown in a no-till, transplanted system, double …

Missouri Novelty Melon Trial Results, James Quinn, Ramón Arancibia, David Trinklein

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

No abstract provided.

Supersweet Sweet Corn Cultivar Evaluation For Northern Indiana, 2019, Elizabeth Maynard

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Indiana sweet corn for fresh market was harvested from 3,580 acres and 426 farms in 2017 (USDA NASS, 2019a). Indiana ranked 16th among states for production of all sweet corn and produced about 0.6% of the nation’s total in 2017 (USDA NASS, 2018). Sweet corn fields for fresh market sales are located throughout the state. In northern Indiana, bicolor corn is most commonly grown. Varieties with improved eating quality are of interest to both producers and consumers. Producers are also interested in yield, ear size, appearance, and agronomic characteristics.

This paper reports on fifteen bicolor, four yellow, and one white …

Fall Broccoli Production In High Tunnels, Wenjing Guan

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

A fall broccoli trial was conducted in a high tunnel at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, Vincennes, IN in 2016 to test the potential of growing broccoli in high tunnels after tomato. Six broccoli cultivars were evaluated in the trial. Seedlings were transplanted in the high tunnel on Sep. 2. Plants started to form heads in the middle of October. The first harvest occurred on Oct. 25 on cultivars Blue Wind and Green Magic. Harvest for cultivars Belstar and Arcadia started the latest on Nov. 11. Cultivars Green Magic and Blue Wind developed about 2 side heads per plant, which …

Evaluation Of Transplant Root Length On Bell Pepper Yield And Quality, Ron G. Goldy, Kyle Ferrantella

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

No abstract provided.

Performance Of 18 Fresh Market And Eight Saladette Tomato Cultivars In Southwest Michigan In 2019, Ron G. Goldy, Kyle Ferrantella

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

No abstract provided.

Response Of Cucumber, Yellow Squash, And Zucchini To Six Nitrogen Rates, Ron G. Goldy, Kyle Ferrantella

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

No abstract provided.