Wet conditions have Illinois pumpkin growers on the alert for signs of Phytophthora blight in their fields.
This disease nearly destroyed the pumpkin industry in 1999, causing up to 100% crop losses in parts of the state. While it's not a new disease to this industry, it is the most devastating and it's already showing up in Illinois.
Mohammad Babadoost, University of Illinois Extension specialist in fruit and vegetable pathology, says, "An outbreak of Phytophthora blight in Illinois could devastate most of the country's supply of processed pumpkins and other cucurbit crops in Illinois."
Illinois-grown processing pumpkins account for nearly 95% of the pumpkins grown in the United States for use in pies, breads, and other foods. Illinois has approximately 25,000 acres of processing and jack-o-lantern pumpkins with a gross value exceeding $160 million per year. Not only is it the biggest vegetable industry in the state, it's also a great source of agri-tourism drawing huge crowds to choose jack-o-lantern pumpkins from fields each fall.
This disease caused by Phytophthora capsici affects all cucurbits and peppers. Cucurbits include pumpkins, watermelon, honeydew, squash, zucchini, cucumbers and other vine vegetables. This disease affects both commercial and home gardeners.
ekreider wrote:From the electronic version of Prairie Farmer is a disquieting story on pumpkin risk: Phytophthora Blight Is Popping Up in Pumpkin Fields Across the State.Wet conditions have Illinois pumpkin growers on the alert for signs of Phytophthora blight in their fields.
This disease nearly destroyed the pumpkin industry in 1999, causing up to 100% crop losses in parts of the state. While it's not a new disease to this industry, it is the most devastating and it's already showing up in Illinois.
Mohammad Babadoost, University of Illinois Extension specialist in fruit and vegetable pathology, says, "An outbreak of Phytophthora blight in Illinois could devastate most of the country's supply of processed pumpkins and other cucurbit crops in Illinois."
Illinois-grown processing pumpkins account for nearly 95% of the pumpkins grown in the United States for use in pies, breads, and other foods. Illinois has approximately 25,000 acres of processing and jack-o-lantern pumpkins with a gross value exceeding $160 million per year. Not only is it the biggest vegetable industry in the state, it's also a great source of agri-tourism drawing huge crowds to choose jack-o-lantern pumpkins from fields each fall.
This disease caused by Phytophthora capsici affects all cucurbits and peppers. Cucurbits include pumpkins, watermelon, honeydew, squash, zucchini, cucumbers and other vine vegetables. This disease affects both commercial and home gardeners.
Don't count on the supply of canned pumpkin being replenished very well. The article does have some prevention methods that are available even if they are not highly effective.
Babadoost and fellow researchers have devised an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to minimizing the devastation of this disease. In fact, in the past 10 years, they've been able to reduce crop loss from an average of 30% loss per year to less than 10% loss per year.
"To prevent this disease, we recommend crop rotation of three years or longer with non-host crops, followed by seed treatment and routine scouting, especially of low areas in fields," Babadoost explains. "Management of this disease requires serious, intensive work by growers, processing companies and Extension personnel. In general, no single method provides adequate control."
ekreider wrote:Wet conditions have Illinois pumpkin growers on the alert for signs of Phytophthora blight in their fields.
This disease nearly destroyed the pumpkin industry in 1999, causing up to 100% crop losses in parts of the state. While it's not a new disease to this industry, it is the most devastating and it's already showing up in Illinois.
Mohammad Babadoost, University of Illinois Extension specialist in fruit and vegetable pathology, says, "An outbreak of Phytophthora blight in Illinois could devastate most of the country's supply of processed pumpkins and other cucurbit crops in Illinois."
Illinois-grown processing pumpkins account for nearly 95% of the pumpkins grown in the United States for use in pies, breads, and other foods. Illinois has approximately 25,000 acres of processing and jack-o-lantern pumpkins with a gross value exceeding $160 million per year. Not only is it the biggest vegetable industry in the state, it's also a great source of agri-tourism drawing huge crowds to choose jack-o-lantern pumpkins from fields each fall.
This disease caused by Phytophthora capsici affects all cucurbits and peppers. Cucurbits include pumpkins, watermelon, honeydew, squash, zucchini, cucumbers and other vine vegetables. This disease affects both commercial and home gardeners.
Chitown B wrote:any word on the crop this year? I'm still without pumpkin, for 1.5 years now.
I have a lone straggling can in my cupboard that I'm afraid to use, if it'll be the last pumpkin I ever have.
NFriday wrote:Hi- I was just in the Aldi's on Oakton in Evanston, and their canned pumpkin is now $1.39 a can. It looks like they only had one box of canned pumpkin left. It looks like there either is a shortage of pumpkin, or people are hoarding it. Hope this helps, Nancy
Cleaned out my purse and happened to find my receipt--$1.99 for organic pumpkin cans.grits wrote:Trader Joes had plenty of organic pumpkin today (15 oz cans).