Purdue News

July 2001 Commercial vegetable grower guide available WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University has released the "Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers 2001." The annual guide contains information such as herbicide effectiveness, insect management strategies and recommendations for individual vegetable varieties. "This guide is a useful tool for growers because it has information on variety selection, fertility and pest management for growing all kinds of vegetables," said Rick Foster, lead author of the publication and a Purdue Extension entomology specialist. New for the 2001 edition are a table summarizing disease management strategies; new varieties of muskmelons, peppers, pumpkins and tomatoes; new weed management products; and updated information on pesticides. Foster said vegetable varieties included in the guide were chosen for their ability to flourish in trials conducted by horticulturists in the Midwest. Varieties of asparagus, cucumber, eggplant, mint and sweet corn are among the 37 vegetables listed. Planting season, harvesting, disease treatments and weed control are suggested for each vegetable variety. Extension specialists in entomology, botany and plant pathology, and horticulture from Purdue, the University of Illinois, Iowa State University, the University of Minnesota and the University of Missouri contributed to this year's guide. "We draw on the knowledge of more than 20 scientists from five states for this publication," said Foster. The publication may be ordered from county extension offices for $8.50 or online. CONTACT: Rick Foster, (765) 494-9572, rick_foster@entm.purdue.edu. Compiled by Mindy Reef, (765) 494-8402, news_students@aes.purdue.edu Purdue Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, Ag News Coordinator, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu; https://persephone.agcom.purdue.edu/AgCom/news/ Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page