Fresh market production of melons has been an important crop for NYS growers for many years. Cantaloupe are predominantly the main type of melons grown, but Honeydew, Crenshaw, Watermelon and Gallia types can also be grown quite nicely in our climate. Recently, "personal" or "ice box" types of melons, which have been bred for individual consumer use are much smaller (2-3 pounds) and have become favorites of consumers at roadside stands and farmers markets. Nearly all the melons grown in NY are produced on raised beds mulched with black plastic and drip irrigation. Fusarium wilt, Powdery and Downy Mildew and Gummy Stem Blight remain the main disease issues with these crops. Striped Cucumber Beetles and aphids remain the major insect pests.

More Melons Content

Muck Donut Hour Every Tuesday

June 6 - August 15, 2017
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Elba, NY

Meet with Cornell Vegetable Program Specialist Christy Hoepting every Tuesday morning to ask questions and share your observations. Grower experience is combined with research and scouting information for a whole lot of talk about growing ONIONS!

Fresh Market Minutes - Every Other Tuesday - Eden Valley

June 6 - August 29, 2017
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Eden, NY

New this year -- Meet with the Cornell Vegetable Program Specialist Darcy Telenko every other Tuesday morning to ask questions and share your observations in fresh market vegetables.

Fresh Market Minutes - Every Other Tuesday - Ransomville

June 13 - September 5, 2017
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Ransomville, NY

New this year -- Meet with the Cornell Vegetable Program Specialist Darcy Telenko every other Tuesday morning to ask questions and share your observations in fresh market vegetables.

Precision Ag Specialist Position Available

Cornell Cooperative Extension seeks a qualified candidate to provide leadership and educational programming to advance precision agriculture and new technology applications to production and management practices that will sustain and enhance the profitability of the field crops and vegetable industries in Western New York.

The position is a joint appointment with two Cornell Cooperative Extension Regional Agriculture Teams, the Cornell Vegetable Program and the Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Team. With this position, we are adding capacity to our Extension program. We hope to find a candidate who will bring additional skills in crop management to complement our respective teams as well.

More information and application instructions are available at Cornell Careers. Questions may be directed to CVP Team Leader, Julie Kikkert.

Empire State Producers EXPO Proceedings Available

Proceedings from the Empire State Producers EXPO conference from 2011-2017 are available online. 

2017 Cornell Vegetable Guidelines Available

The 2017 edition of the Cornell Integrated Crop and Pest Management Guidelines for Commercial Vegetable Production is now available. This annual publication provides up-to-date vegetable crop production information for New York State. It is designed as a practical guide for vegetable crop producers, crop consultants, ag chemical dealers, and others who advise vegetable crop producers.

In addition to the annually revised pesticide and crop production information, highlighted changes in this edition of the Vegetable Guidelines include:

• Addition of Dickeya blackleg on potato as a disease of concern.
• Updated regulatory considerations for organic vegetable production.
• Revised European corn borer management strategies for beans and potatoes.

The Cornell Guidelines are available as a print copy ($41 plus shipping), online-only access ($41), or a package that combines print and online access ($57.50 plus shipping). Cornell Guidelines can be purchased through your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office or from the Cornell Store at Cornell University. To order from the Cornell Store, call (844) 688-7620 or order online.