Summer Squash Variety Evaluation for Early-season Production in High Tunnels

Crops that can set fruit without pollination have an advantage for early-season high tunnel production. With a diverse fruit shape and color, summer squash is a valuable crop providing diversity, especially for the early farmers market. Six selected summer squash cultivars that are either indicated as parthenocarpic cultivar in seed catalogs or showed high capability to set fruit without pollination in the previous study were evaluated in a high tunnel trial in spring 2018 at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, Vincennes, IN

Effects of Using Low Tunnel and Grafted Plants for Watermelon Production under Low Temperature Stress in Indiana

This study evaluated the effect of using low tunnel and grafted plants for early-season watermelon production in Indiana. Results of the study indicated that grafted seedless watermelon plants can better tolerate cold stress in the early watermelon season compared to non-grafted seedless watermelon plants. Grafted plants with ‘Camelforce’ rootstock had better old tolerance than that of ‘Carolina Strong Back’ rootstock. The effect of using low tunnels to improve plant survival rate under extreme weather conditions is limited, which depend on temperate stress and cold tolerance of the plants

Fall Broccoli Production in High Tunnels

A fall broccoli trial was conducted in a high tunnel at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, Vincennes, IN in 2016 to test the potential of growing broccoli in high tunnels after tomato. Six broccoli cultivars were evaluated in the trial. Seedlings were transplanted in the high tunnel on Sep. 2. Plants started to form heads in the middle of October. The first harvest occurred on Oct. 25 on cultivars Blue Wind and Green Magic. Harvest for cultivars Belstar and Arcadia started the latest on Nov. 11. Cultivars Green Magic and Blue Wind developed about 2 side heads per plant, which was significantly greater than cultivars Gypsy, Arcadia and Belstar. Cultivars Green Magic and Gypsy had the highest marketable yield (including first and secondary head), which was significantly higher than cultivars Arcadia and Belstar. With the current spacing, an 80 feet long bed inside a 96 feet long high tunnel can accommodate about 100 plants. Harvesting up to 119 lbs of high-quality broccoli per bed may be expected

2023 Personal-sized Seedless Watermelon Cultivar Evaluation in Indiana

Indiana ranks sixth in watermelon production in the U.S., following Florida, Georgia, Texas, California, and North Carolina in 2022. A total of 7,000 acres of watermelons were planted, with a production value of $71 million (USDA, 2023). Watermelons grown in Indiana are primarily red flesh seedless, and around 10% are personal-sized seedless watermelons (6-8 lbs)

2023 Cantaloupe Cultivar Evaluation in Indiana

Traditionally, eastern-type cantaloupe is produced in Indiana. Longer shelf-life cultivars were developed and have been grown in Indiana. This report includes 11 cantaloupe cultivars, including some newly developed ones

2023 Standard-sized Seedless Watermelon Cultivar Evaluation in Indiana

The annual watermelon cultivar evaluation trial is conducted at Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC), in Vincennes, Indiana. The trial evaluates yield, fruit quality, and overall plant performance of commercial watermelon cultivars and advanced breeding lines. The trial is financially supported by Purdue Extension and seed companies. The 2023 standard-sized triploid watermelon cultivar trial had 35 cultivars, including six with solid dark-green rind patterns, and one with a solid light-green rind pattern

Muskmelon Variety Trial in Southwest Indiana — 2016

This is a compilation of 21 research trial reports from four land-grant universities in the Midwestern United States. Crops include cantaloupe, pickling cucumber, pepper, potato, pumpkin, summer squash and zucchini, sweet corn, tomato, and watermelon. Somecrops were evaluated in high tunnels or hoophouses. Most trials evaluated different cultivars or varieties. One report addressed plant spacing for sweet corn and one addressed soil block for production of tomato seedlings. A list of vegetable seed sources and a list of other online sources of vegetable trial reports are also included

Strawberry Variety Evaluation for High Tunnel Production in Southwest Indiana

This is a compilation of 21 research trial reports from four land-grant universities in the Midwestern United States. Crops include cantaloupe, pickling cucumber, pepper, potato, pumpkin, summer squash and zucchini, sweet corn, tomato, and watermelon. Somecrops were evaluated in high tunnels or hoophouses. Most trials evaluated different cultivars or varieties. One report addressed plant spacing for sweet corn and one addressed soil block for production of tomato seedlings. A list of vegetable seed sources and a list of other online sources of vegetable trial reports are also included

Strawberry Variety Evaluation for High Tunnel Production in Southwest Indiana

This is a compilation of 21 research trial reports from four land-grant universities in the Midwestern United States. Crops include cantaloupe, pickling cucumber, pepper, potato, pumpkin, summer squash and zucchini, sweet corn, tomato, and watermelon. Somecrops were evaluated in high tunnels or hoophouses. Most trials evaluated different cultivars or varieties. One report addressed plant spacing for sweet corn and one addressed soil block for production of tomato seedlings. A list of vegetable seed sources and a list of other online sources of vegetable trial reports are also included

2023 Seeded Watermelon Cultivar Evaluation in Indiana

Watermelons grown in Indiana are primarily red flesh seedless, and a small portion of personal-sized red flesh seedless. Seeded watermelons are typically not grown in large acreages, but they may be used as pollenizer plants for growing seedless watermelons. The 2023 seeded watermelon cultivar trial included 15 seeded watermelon cultivars