The Pedrone peppers, which were planted as part of a research project, are struggling. Many have not survived. They were planted during the period of hot, dry and windy weather. In addition, weeds like lambs quarter, velvet leaf and spiny amaranth are creeping into the pepper field, competing for space, water and nutrition.
The field corn is in the 6th leaf stage, and the newer growth is showing some yellowing, signaling a lack of nitrogen. This cornfield also has its share of crabgrass, and in one small sample area a large number of small grubs were uncovered from the ground. These grubs will eventually turn into Japanese beetles, June bugs and Chaffer beetles. Since grubs will eat the roots of the corn plant, one needs to monitor the feeding damage, if any, in the next few weeks.
As noted last week, in the soybean field behind the field corn the soybean seeds were not planted too deeply due to the dry weather and rye residue remaining in the field. This week most of the soybeans still have not germinated. There is concern that in time the soybean field growth will look spotty because some of the shallow seeding will not take hold and therefore not germinate.
There is another soybean crop in the second trifoliate stage and because of groundhog damage and previous dry weather the field looks spotty.
The sweet corn is in the 4th leaf stage. The sweet corn, like the field corn, is showing some yellowing due to its new quick growth from the rain. It will need nitrogen fertilizer going into its 5th or 6th leaf stage.
In the demonstration plots the tomato plants still need to be monitored for the Colorado potato beetle and its eggs. They've been appearing in a lesser number every day. The pumpkin plants are greening-up. No bug issues so far with the pumpkin plants. The strawberries are being harvested, weighed and tasted. The millet seeds and broom corn seeds were planted yesterday. The hops are being eaten by the tent caterpillar and some sort of beetle. The hops are also showing signs of powdery mildew. Below is the weekly summary for the insects caught in the four insect traps.
Below is the weekly summary for the insects caught in the four insect traps.
Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 5 black cut worm, 1 hemiptera.
Trap 2 (European Corn Borer) – 1 each European corn borer and ladybug.
Trap 3 (Fall Army Worm) – 10 true army worm.
Trap 4 (Corn Ear Worm) – 32 noctuids, 1 corn ear worm.
Notes compiled by John Siemanonski
