Fruit and Vegetable News

Author: Marissa Schuh , Integrated Pest Management Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension. Reviewed by Natalie Hoidal. Originally publishes July 2021, revised June 2026. The last week has seen heat, with extremely hot days and temperatures in the 70s overnight.  These temperatures are dangerous for growers and farm workers , and can also reduce yields of our crops.  Crops are at all kinds of development stages depending on where you are at in the state -- read on for the types of effects may linger after this heat has passed. Ways hot weather impact crops before fruit set Aborted flowers wither and become brittle, falling off the plant easily. Photo: Marissa Schuh, University of Minnesota Extension Potential issue 1: Hot day and nighttime temperatures cause flowers to drop The first is flower abortion: flowers form, but then die and fall off the plant before becoming fruit. Flower abortion can happen at temperatures ranging from 75° F to 95° F, depending on th...

Natalie Hoidal,  Marissa Schuh , Annalisa Hultberg, Extension Educators, University of Minnesota Extension. Originally published 2021, updated 2026. 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 increase in seed cost tends not to justify the larger pieces. Larger pieces can also...

Author: Natalie Hoidal, UMN Extension We've seen some very heavy rains followed by hot weather over the last couple of weeks. These conditions can cause crusting on the soil surface. In this brief overview, I'll discuss how / why crusts form, and how you can respond in the immediate and longer term. At this point in the season, most crops are already in the field. However, many of you will continue to plant successions of brassicas, lettuce, carrots, and other crops. We tend to see some of our heaviest rains and thunderstorms in the summer, so keep the possibility of crusting in mind as you time your plantings. Soil crusting: Why does it happen?  Crusting often leads to uneven emergence Photo: Angie Peltier Soils that have high aggregate stability (a function of soil texture, organic matter, and biological activity) are able to retain their structure in the face of heavy rainfall. A soil with lower aggregate stability is more likely to experience some disintegration...

Author: Natalie Hoidal, UMN Extension Educator for local foods and vegetable production Spring temperatures have been cool across the state, and some of you may be holding onto your transplants longer than usual. In Minnesota this May, we’ve accumulated anywhere from 35 to 75 fewer growing degree days than what we would see in an average May. There are a few things you can do to slow down transplant growth prior to transplanting, and to reduce transplant shock: Before transplanting Limit growth if you need to hold transplants longer than expected If your plants are starting to stretch and you’re not ready to transplant into the field, there are a few ways you can reduce growth and stem elongation. By lowering the overall temperature of your greenhouse or high tunnel, plant growth will slow down. This may also help to harden off your plants and reduce transplant shock. Another option is to simply bring your plants outside during the day if doing so is feasible with the scale...