Fruit and Vegetable News

  Madeline Wimmer- Fruit Production Extension Educator, wimm0035@umn.edu It’s almost May, which means it’s that time of the year again to share some updates related to Minnesota fruit production. The Fruit updates series share updates related to fruit crop growth stages, report on pests and diseases found throughout the season, and deliver general guidance and tips related to Minnesota fruit production. Stay tuned for more updates throughout this year’s growing season. Fruit phenology: Apples: Images: Apple blossoms in an first pink stage taken at ApplesRus in Rochester Minnesota (04/25; Zone 4b) and at a slightly earlier growth stage at the University of Minnesota Horticulture Research Center, near Victoria, Minnesota (04/26; Zone 4b).  Which growth stage apples are in depends on a few factors. This includes the USDA hardiness zone they’re grown within, influences from local topography, the specific apple variety grown, as well as general growth habit and canopy composition. ...

Marissa Schuh , Integrated Pest Management Extension Educator The last few years have seen an uptick in the occurrence of three bacterial diseases in Minnesota tomatoes: bacterial spot , bacterial speck, and bacterial canker . Control of all of these diseases begins during transplant production. These diseases are known to be seedborne, and the trays, tables, and tools used in the greenhouse provide places for the disease to survive from year to year. Like all bacteria, water is key in moving the bacteria from plant to plant, and wounds provide ways for pathogens to enter the transplants. Greenhouse Sanitation Good greenhouse sanitation is the basis of bacterial disease control, especially if you struggled with one of these diseases last year. Try not to reuse transplant trays, and give tables and tools a good cleaning and sanitizing before the season starts. Wood tables aren’t sanitize-able, but a good cleaning followed by adequate drying time will help reduce places the bacteria can ...

  Annalisa Hultberg, Extension Educator, food safety Are you looking for low-cost and safe ways to wash fruits and vegetables to prepare them for sale this summer?  You do not need to spend a lot of money to build a safe washing station. While stainless steel and permanent tanks and sinks are going to last longer, you can use simple and cheap materials to build a station that could be placed indoors or outside on grass or gravel. These are some ideas for creating food safe and low-cost wash stations for your farm or community garden.  Building the combination tub and spray table While some spray tables use screen or plastic netting, rigid plastic greenhouse benchtop is a more study option and will also support the weight of boxes and heavy produce well. This allows this table to be multi functional. This design is for a combination flat topped spray table and washing tub station. This estimate for prices was updated in April 2024. The current total is approximately $438 i...