The Kiwano and Pepino: Crops for the Back Forty

The Kiwano and Pepino: Crops for the Back Forty

The USDA defines specialty crops as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).” This definition is very broad and as you will soon find out, some crops are extremely special. Two crops new to me, Kiwano...
Conditions are Favorable for Bacterial Spot in Fall Tomatoes

Conditions are Favorable for Bacterial Spot in Fall Tomatoes

High temperatures and wet weather produce the perfect conditions for the onset of bacterial spot in tomato fields. The disease is caused by various species of Xanthomonas bacteria. Small spots (1/8 inch) form on leaves, stems, and fruit. The leaf spots are sometimes...
Rindworms:  A “Complex” Pest of Melons

Rindworms: A “Complex” Pest of Melons

Matt Lollar, Jackson County Horticulture Agent It’s the beginning of melon harvest season in the Panhandle, and rindworms pose a significant threat to fruit quality. Rindworms are an interesting bunch because they are made up of a number of caterpillar species that...
The Diamondback Moth:  A Major Pest of Cole Crops

The Diamondback Moth: A Major Pest of Cole Crops

Matt Lollar, Jackson County Horticulture Agent Diamondback moths were recently discovered in a greenhouse crop of arugula in Jackson County, and they may soon be moving to a field near you.  Diamondback moths can be detrimental to cole crops. Adults are approximately...