Fruit and Vegetable News

Madeline Wimmer- Fruit Production educator Introduction Whether you’re working on a new vineyard block, elongating cordons for further established vines, or replacing winter-injured or declining cordons, tying down canes to fruiting wire is a regular vineyard task. The process is fairly simple, and below are a few tips and answers to common questions to ensure your success! Images:  Left: A Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) trained grapevine with a permanent cordon on one side, and a cane tied down on the other to replace a cordon.  Right: A grapevine cane with newly swelling buds (primary and secondary) developing (upper right). A grapevine cane that is being tied down to elongate the short, already-established cordon (lower right). Why is it necessary to secure canes to the fruiting wire? Without any support, the cordons (i.e., the arms of the grapevine) would collapse from the weight of the fruit. This is true even if cordons seem to be supported by the fruiting wire without an...

Author: Natalie Hoidal, UMN Extension Educator, local foods and vegetable crops Originally published in 2021; updated in 2026 There are so many benefits to using plastic mulch including moisture retention, weed control, and soil warming, but the environmental impact is hard to ignore. It's estimated that in the US alone, farmers use around 1 billion pounds of plastic annually. In this article, I'll review some alternatives and share up-to-date research and grower feedback.  Plastic is a mainstay on most vegetable farms, but farmers are working hard to find good alternatives. Photo NH   Alternative plastic mulch-like products 1. Biodegradable plastic mulch If a grower wanted to swap black plastic mulch with something nearly identical, but more environmentally friendly, biodegradable plastic mulch may be the best option. These plastics perform similarly to regular plastic mulch, but rather than removing your mulch at the end of the season, it's tilled into the soil where it ...

Author: Natalie Hoidal, University of Minnesota Extension Educator, Local Foods and Vegetable Production, with input from members of the Great Lakes Vegetable Working Group Originally published 2021, updated 2026. Seedling season is here, so let's review some common problems that emerge this time of year, and ways to avoid them.  Poor germination If your seedlings simply are not germinating, the most likely cause is salts. Some potting mixes contain very high concentrations of salts, which inhibit germination. If you're making your own potting mix, applying high rates of potassium, blood meal, or other fertilizers can lead to high salt concentrations. To confirm that this is the problem, or to test a new potting mix before planting, you can always submit a potting soil sample to the UMN soil lab (click on Testing Services --> Greenhouse, Florist, & Nursery Tests, and select a soil/media test). However, if a single variety is not germinating, it is likely a seed v...

Weeds are a fact of life in vegetable farming, but there are mechanical tools and techniques that farms of all sizes can use to manage weeds efficiently. University of Minnesota Extension's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships and Agriculture and Natural Resources Department are hosting five Mechanical Weed Control Field Days on farms around the state this summer, featuring demonstrations from Extension staff and weeding expert Sam Oschwald Tilton. Why attend? Hands-on field demos on many types of weeding tools Try out weeding tools before you buy them Learn from host farmers about what weeding tools work for them Meet other vegetable farmers from around the state All events are free, though registration is required . Field days will run from 9 to 3:30. Lunch and light refreshments will be provided. You can register for any field day at https://z.umn.edu/weedcontroldays . May 27th - Southeast Minnesota - Rushford, Minnesota June 13th - Northwest Minnesota - Felton, Minneso...