Squash- Winter
![Squash- Winter](https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/images/crop/image32.jpg)
Relevant Events
Niagara Region Vegetable Meeting
![Event Offers DEC Credits](../images/dec_credits.gif)
August 14, 2024
Clarence Center, NY
2024 Chipping Potato Twilight Meeting
![Event Offers DEC Credits](../images/dec_credits.gif)
August 20, 2024
Dansville, NY
Video: Farmer Ingenuity - Combining Plastic and Living Mulch
In this how-to video, we show how farmers combine plastic and living mulch to reduce weed pressure, improve soil health, and harvest cleaner vegetables. Now that's a win-win-win!
Video: New York State Produce Auctions
![Video: New York State Produce Auctions](https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/images/submission/image289_thumb.jpg)
Currently, there are 8 produce auctions in New York State. These auctions are aggregation points that allow local farmers to sell their produce in wholesale lots to buyers from across the region. To document the economic impact of produce auctions on agriculture, local businesses, family farms, and produce buyers, the Cornell Vegetable Program worked with Harvest New York to survey top sellers and buyers.
A new Cornell Vegetable Program video shares general information about produce auctions, how buyers and sellers use the auctions to expand their businesses, and how local communities benefit from them.
Organic Production Guides
Robert Hadad, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Cornell Vegetable Program
![Organic Production Guides](https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/images/submission/image36_thumb.jpg)
Organic Production Guides for fruits, vegetables and dairy are available through the NYS Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. They outline general practices for growing vegetable and fruit crops using organic integrated pest management techniques.
Video: Downy Mildew
![Video: Downy Mildew](https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/images/submission/image465_thumb.jpg)
Downy mildew is a potentially devastating disease to cucurbits. It usually affects cucumbers and cantaloupes first; later in the season it can be found on summer squash and zucchini. During some seasons, downy mildew can spread to winter squash and watermelons. Growers need to be monitoring their fields. This short video shows the different stages of the disease and possible outcomes if it is not controlled.
2017 Cucurbit Downy Mildew Management Guidelines
![2017 Cucurbit Downy Mildew Management Guidelines](https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/images/submission/image230_thumb.jpg)
From Margaret McGrath, Cornell
Producing a high-quality cucurbit crop necessitates effectively managing downy mildew. This foliar disease is common in the northeast because the pathogen produces a large quantity of asexual spores that are easily dispersed long distances by wind, which enables it to spread widely. There has been no evidence that the pathogen is surviving between growing seasons where winter temperatures kill cucurbit crops (outdoors above the 30th latitude); however, recently both mating types have been found, albeit typically on different cucurbit crop types, thus there is the potential for the pathogen to produce oospores (sexual spores) that could enable the pathogen to survive in northern areas of the USA. The downy mildew forecasting program has documented based on downy mildew occurrence movement of the pathogen throughout the eastern USA each year via its wind-dispersed asexual spores. The pathogen does not affect fruit directly; however, affected leaves die prematurely which results in fewer fruit and/or fruit of low quality (poor flavor, sunscald, poor storability).
The most important component of an effective management program for downy mildew is an effective, properly-timed fungicide program. And the key to that is applying mobile fungicides targeted to the pathogen starting when there is a risk of the pathogen being present. Mobile (or translaminar) fungicides are needed for control on the underside of leaves. Each year there often are changes to the fungicides recommended as the pathogen develops resistance or new products are registered. Because these fungicides have targeted activity, additional fungicides must be added to the program when there is a need to manage other diseases such as powdery mildew. Most targeted fungicides effective for downy mildew are also effective for Phytophthora blight.
Cold Storage Chart and Reference Guide to Commercial Vegetable Storage
Robert Hadad, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Cornell Vegetable Program
![Cold Storage Chart and Reference Guide to Commercial Vegetable Storage](https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/images/submission/image411_thumb.jpg)
Commercial vegetable growers will find a Cold Storage Chart by crop type with temperature and relative humidity recommendations. The maximum number of weeks that the crop can be held under ideal conditions is provided as well.
Adapted from the USDA Bulletin #66, The Commercial Storage of Fruits, Vegetables, and Florist and Nursery Stock, growers will find information on quality, grading, sizes, and packaging, chilling and storage, and post-harvest pathology of vegetables.
Storage Conditions for Squash
Robert Hadad, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Cornell Vegetable Program
![Storage Conditions for Squash](https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/images/submission/image410_thumb.jpg)
From Vegetable MD Online:
A chart of recommended storage conditions for different culinary types and their storage life expectancy.
Guideline Tools: Weed Management in Cucurbits, 2015
Darcy Telenko, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Cornell Vegetable Program
![Guideline Tools: Weed Management in Cucurbits, 2015](https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/images/submission/image295_thumb.jpg)
This reference sheet lists the herbicides that are labeled for cucurbits in New York and which species are controlled, as well as other important considerations and photos of weeds. While this is a handy references, it is critical to read the product labels thoroughly.
Copper Fungicides for Organic Disease Management in Vegetables
![Copper Fungicides for Organic Disease Management in Vegetables](https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/images/submission/image151_thumb.jpg)
There are several different copper fungicides approved for use in organically-produced crops. Copper fungicides are important tools for managing diseases that cannot be effectively managed with cultural practices alone.
![more crops](images/more_crops_left_sm.gif)
![more crops](images/more_crops_right_sm,.gif)
Upcoming Events
Niagara Region Vegetable Meeting
![Event Offers DEC Credits](../images/dec_credits.gif)
August 14, 2024
Clarence Center, NY
We'll start this meeting off at Root Down Farm to hear late season disease management updates in peppers and cole crops, plus current best management practices to limit fungicide resistance. Potato variety recommendations and disease control questions in potatoes will be addressed.
Then we'll head to Kreher's beet field to view and discuss alternative weed control technologies. The beet field is an on-farm demonstration of various flame weeding protocols in comparison with stacked tool cultivation equipment. One or two weeding robots will be on-hand for live demonstrations and discussion of the technology's current abilities and future potential. We'll also cover industry updates and a review of late summer disease management in squash.
2.0 DEC credits will be available in categories 23, 1a, and 10.
2024 Chipping Potato Twilight Meeting
![Event Offers DEC Credits](../images/dec_credits.gif)
August 20, 2024
Dansville, NY
Join us for a brief, on-farm meeting including insect pest updates and viewing of the chipping potato variety trial. 1.0 DEC credits in categories 10, 1a, and 23 will be offered. Dinner follows!