Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for 

Commercial Growers 2017

Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers 
The 2017 edition of the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers is a collaboration of land-grant universities from eight states. It provides vegetable production information that is valid in the participating states for the current year. This includes fertility, variety, cultural, and pest management recommendations.
 
The participating states are:
  • Illinois — University of Illinois Extension publication C1373-1
  • Indiana — Purdue Extension publication ID-56
  • Iowa — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publication FG 0600
  • Kansas — Kansas State Research and Extension publication MF3279
  • Michigan — Michigan State University Extension publication E0312
  • Minnesota — University of Minnesota Extension publication BU-07094-S
  • Missouri — University of Missouri Extension publication MX384, Lincoln University of Missouri Cooperative Extension and Research publication LUCER 01-2017
  • Ohio — Ohio State University Extension Bulletin 948

The print edition of this publication is available from the Purdue Extension Education Store. To order by phone, call (765) 494-6794.

Download the complete 234-page PDF of the guide.

PDF files of individual sections appear below. ​

Contents

​Reference Information

Title​​​ PDF Pages
What's New in 2017?
 3​
State Extension Educators 4
Soils Fertility and Nutrient Management 12
Crop Nutrient Requirements 13
Soil Testing 12
Crop Nutrient Requirements 13
Macronutrients 13
​Micronutrients ​14
Fertilizer and the Environment 16
Fertilizer Application Methods 16
​Fertilzer Rates per  Linear Bed Foot ​16
Liming and Soil pH 17
Chemigation Management 19
Organic Matter and Cover Crops 20
Transplants 23
Transplant Production 23
Transplant Containers 24
Seeding and Growing 24
Diseases 25
Seed Treatments 26
Irrigation, Mulches, Frost Controls 27
Using Plastic Mulch 27
Irrigation and Water Management 28
Frost Control 30
Pollination 30
Bees and Pollination 30
Time from Pollination to Market Maturity 33
Pesticide Information and Safety 33
Precautions with Pesticides 33
Handling Pesticides 34
Reduced-risk/Biopesticides 37
Pesticide Record-Keeping Form 38
Organic Vegetable Production 39
Production Tables 41
Yields of Vegetable Crops 41
Postharvest Handling and Storage Life 42
Germination and Growing Guide 43
Pesticide Use in Greenhouses and High Tunnels 44
Using a Plant Diagnostic Lab 46
Farm Labor Law Information 49
On-farm Food Safety 50
Sanitizers Approved for Wash or Process Water 52
Insect Management 53
Insect Management Strategies 53
PHIs and REIs for Insecticides 56
Plant Parasitic Nematode Management Strategies
 57
Weed Management 58
Weed Management Strategies 58
Herbicide Effectiveness 66
PHIs and REIs for Herbicides 67
Disease Management 69
Disease Management Strategies 69
PHIs and REIs for Fungicides 75
Fungicide Resistance Management 76
Disease Forecasting Systems 77
Slug and Snail Control 77
Common and Scientific Vegetable 78
Herbicides for Asparagus 84
Herbicides for Cole Crops 99
Product/Disease Ratings for All Cucurbits 117
Product/Disease Ratings for All Fruiting Vegetables 138
Herbicides for All Fruiting Vegetables 141
Herbicides for Leafy Vegetables 151
Herbicides for Legumes 168
Herbicides for All Garlic, Onions, and Leeks 186
Herbicides for Potatoes 194
Herbicides for Root Crops: Beet, Carrot, Horseradish, Radish, and Turnip 209
Photos of Pests and Problems 227

​Crop Recomendations​​

Title​ PDF Pages
Asian Vegetables 86
Asparagus 81
Basil 146, 158
Beet 204
Broccoli 94
Brussels Sprouts 94
Cabbage 94
Cantaloupe 109
Carrot 204
Cauliflower 94
​Celery ​88
Collards 94
Cowpea 163
Cucumber 109
Dry Bean 162
Eggplant 126
Endive 146
Garlic 179
Herbs 146, 158
Kale  94
Leek 179
Lettuce (Head and Leaf) 146
Lima Bean 162
Mint (Peppermint and Spearmint) 173
Mustard  94
Okra 176
Onion (Bulb and Green) 179
Parsley 146
Pea 163
Pepper 129
Potato 189
Pumpkin 104
Radish 204
Rhubarb 201
Snap Bean 204
Spinach 146
Squash 104
Sweet Corn 213
Sweet Potato 222
Tomato 133
Turnip 204
Turnip Greens 94
Watermelon 109
​Change History

​Date ​Section(s)​ ​Change Description
11-18-16
 ALL
 All PDFs for 2017 edition posted
3-13-17
 ​ALL ​Posted new PDF for overall guide including all the sections updated on 3-13.
​3-13-17 ​Weed Management ​ Updated Table 21: Botanically Related Vegetables.
3-17-17
 ​ Asparagus ​ Updated entries for Dual Magnum® and Spartan® for preemergence broadleaves and grasses.
3-13-17
 ​ Cole Crops ​ Corrected keywords in the page header.
3-13-17
 ​ Curcurbit Crops ​ Added Velum Prime® for powdery mildew control in squash and pumpkin and for root knot nematode control in cantaloupe, cucumber, and watermelon. Corrected keywords in the page header. Updated Product/Disease Ratings for All Cucurbits table.
​3-13-17 Fruiting Vegetables, Potato, Root Crops​ ​Corrected keywords in the page header.
​​3-13-17 ​Sweet Corn ​Updated contact for trap source.
5-1-17 Cucurbits Updated use of Dual Magnum for preemergence broadleaves and grasses. Updated use of Reflex on preemergence broadleaves.     
5-1-17 ​ Root Crops ​ Updaed use of Lorsban 15G on root maggots in rutabaga.
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