Fruit and Vegetable News

Madeline Wimmer- UMN Fruit Production Extension Educator This fruit update contains information about… Apples Growth stage update: tight cluster. Pest highlight: European red mites (ERM) + Beneficial insect highlight: Predatory mites Grapes About grapevine foliar and fruit diseases. Additional fruit crop growth stage updates: Tart cherry, Pear, Plum, and Florican Raspberry Interested in growing day-neutral strawberries in a sheltered environment? Check out this UMN publication. Apples Growth stage update: Tight cluster Images: Zestar! ®   (left) and Rave®/First Kiss® (right) shown here in “tight cluster” growth stage, where floral buds are beginning to be exposed, but are still tightly grouped. Photo (left) taken at Northwoods Apple Orchard in Olmsted County, Minnesota (04/15, Zone 5a) and photo (right) at the University of Minnesota Horticultural Research Center (04/29, UMN HRC; Zone 5a, photo taken by Kate Scapanski, UMN Researcher).  The next major apple growth stage a...

Natalie Hoidal and Marissa Schuh , Extension Educators, University of Minnesota Extension. Originally published 2021, updated 2025. Our biweekly crop by crop growing season prep series continues. This week we are digging into potatoes. Cutting seed: impacts on yield, tuber size, and disease pressure Due to the warm spring weather, many growers are getting ready to plant potatoes ahead of schedule. While you’ve likely already decided how you’ll be cutting your seed (since it influences the amount of seed you ordered), there are some things to consider as you proceed. Size of cuts and planting density A lot of research has gone into figuring out the optimal cut size and planting density for potatoes. There are tradeoffs no matter how large your seed pieces are, and how much space you leave between seed potatoes. In general, larger pieces produce higher yields, with diminishing returns after ~2.5 oz. If you’re cutting your seed potatoes into pieces larger than 2.5 ounces, the in...

Madeline Wimmer - UMN Fruit Production Extension Educator This article marks the beginning of the 2025 UMN Fruit Updates, where information is gathered and shared in real time about current happenings and production requirements for fruit crops in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. These articles are released regularly throughout the growing season, and readers can receive notice of new articles by subscribing to the UMN Fruit and Veg News newsletter email alerts. While apples and grapes are a large focus of this series, we’ll also include updates on other Minnesota-grown fruit crops—such as strawberries, raspberries, pears, plums, blueberries, honeyberries, and currants—based on field conditions and emerging needs throughout the season. Fruit management topics in this series include: tracking plant growth and fruit ripening stages; horticultural management options to improve fruit quality; integrated pest awareness sections that identify and describe various insect and disease-causing o...

Madeline Wimmer- UMN Fruit Production Extension Educator Pest management strategies can vary widely depending on farm scale, production goals, and growing practices—whether organic, conventional, or somewhere in between. Throughout the UMN Fruit Update series, we’ll reference pest management approaches that reflect this diversity. To help you stay informed and supported throughout the season, we’ve compiled a list of key resources that serve as practical tools and guides for managing pests in Minnesota’s apple and grape systems. Resources for apple pest management 1.  Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide A multi-state collaborative guide that is updated once every few years and can be used to find information about multiple fruit crops, including apples. This document is available as a pdf on the Purdue University website (link in heading). Apple growers should refer to the following pages for apple pest management information: Page 13 : Beginning of apple content and apple insect ...

Natalie Hoidal and  Marissa Schuh , Extension Educators, University of Minnesota Extension. Originally published 2021, updated 2025. Our series on the issues Minnesota's major vegetables continues. This week we want to inoculate you with information on common issues and considerations in peas and beans.  Inoculating peas and beans Peas and beans are legumes. They form symbiotic relationships with rhizobia bacteria to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. In some soils, these bacteria are naturally abundant, while in others they need to be added. How do you know whether your soil contains native rhizobia populations? If peas, beans, and other legumes are a regular part of your rotation, you will likely have some rhizobia present in your soil. If your soil is acidic (pH <6), rhizobia are less likely to survive naturally in your soil. Ultimately, it is difficult to know whether you have existing rhizobia populations in your soil. There are a few important factors to consider when ...

Marissa Schuh , Integrated Pest Management Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension. Reviewed by Annie Klodd. Originally published April 2021, updated April 21, 2024. With their long season and spreading growth habit, pumpkins often present a weed control challenge.  Here are some important factors and considerations when working to manage weeds in pumpkins and winter squash.  Waterhemp in a pumpkin patch. While a few sporadic weeds may seem insignificant, one average waterhemp plant produces about 250,000 seeds. Photo: Annie Klodd, University of Minnesota Extension. First, know your weeds. This is beyond knowing you have general issues with grasses or broadleaves.  Some cultural techniques and herbicide chemistries are more effective against some weeds than others.  Being familiar with the specific weed issues in the fields you are planting into will help you tailor your weed control program for success.  Most farms have three to four main problem ...