Eggplant
Eggplant is a commonly grown fresh market crop in New York, particularly for direct-sales such as farm stands, CSAs and farmers markets. In 2010 there were 400 acres of eggplant in the state with a value of over $4 million (2011 Vegetable Summary). Eggplants yield best in New York when grown on black plastic mulch with drip irrigation. The Cornell Vegetable Program scouts eggplant weekly in the growing season to provide pest and disease updates via Veg Edge, our grower-oriented newsletter. Research projects from our program that address eggplant include grafting and specialty variety trials. Check out our links below!Most Recent Eggplant Content
This recorded webinar features Dr. Meg McGrath for a discussion of fungicides for P-Cap, crop rotation strategies, and the use of biofumigants to control P-Cap in infected fields.
Laura McDermott, Team Leader, Small Fruit and Vegetable Specialist
In this pre-recorded webinar, Dr. Michael Mazourek, plant breeder at Cornell University, and Dr. Chris Smart, plant pathologist at Cornell University Geneva Experiment Station lead a discussion about how to minimize the impact of Phytophthora capsici on your farm.
Phytophthora blight was more severe in 2011 than it has been for many years, which raises concern that 2012 could be another bad year for this very destructive disease because of the quantity of pathogen spores left in fields at the end of last season to survive over winter. Blight was severe in areas where there were intensive rainfall events, which created unusually favorable conditions. A key to successfully managing this disease is managing soil moisture to avoid saturated conditions that favor pathogen development and infection. Achieving this is difficult when rainfall amounts are large. Another key has been fungicides registered recently with targeted activity for pathogens in this biological group (Oomycetes). Rain events in 2011 challenged maintaining a good spray schedule and thus achieving effective control. Once blight starts to develop in a crop, it can be difficult to stop, thus a management program will be most successful when initiated before symptoms begin to develop. This includes fungicide applications. An integrated program with cultural practices and fungicides is considered essential.
Phytophthora Webinar 3: Management practices to reduce P-Cap on the farm
Last Modified: May 13, 2013
This recorded webinar features Dr. Meg McGrath for a discussion of fungicides for P-Cap, crop rotation strategies, and the use of biofumigants to control P-Cap in infected fields.
Webinar: Farming with P-Cap: Managing Your Crops and Minimizing Spread
Laura McDermott, Team Leader, Small Fruit and Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Last Modified: November 8, 2012
In this pre-recorded webinar, Dr. Michael Mazourek, plant breeder at Cornell University, and Dr. Chris Smart, plant pathologist at Cornell University Geneva Experiment Station lead a discussion about how to minimize the impact of Phytophthora capsici on your farm.
Managing Phytophthora Blight in 2012
Last Modified: August 7, 2012
Phytophthora blight was more severe in 2011 than it has been for many years, which raises concern that 2012 could be another bad year for this very destructive disease because of the quantity of pathogen spores left in fields at the end of last season to survive over winter. Blight was severe in areas where there were intensive rainfall events, which created unusually favorable conditions. A key to successfully managing this disease is managing soil moisture to avoid saturated conditions that favor pathogen development and infection. Achieving this is difficult when rainfall amounts are large. Another key has been fungicides registered recently with targeted activity for pathogens in this biological group (Oomycetes). Rain events in 2011 challenged maintaining a good spray schedule and thus achieving effective control. Once blight starts to develop in a crop, it can be difficult to stop, thus a management program will be most successful when initiated before symptoms begin to develop. This includes fungicide applications. An integrated program with cultural practices and fungicides is considered essential.
More Eggplant Content
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Upcoming Events
Ag Business Tuesdays - Clinton County
July 11, 2017
1.5 hour appts between 9:00am to 5:00pm
Plattsburgh, NY
Are you a farmer in Eastern New York with a question about the management side of your farm business? The Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team, in collaboration with CCE County offices, is offering free farm business technical assistance appointments this summer on Tuesdays at various locations in our service region. On Tuesday, July 11 from 9:00am-5:00pm we will be at CCE Clinton County.High Tunnel Field Meeting
July 12, 2017
5:00-7:00pm
Arygle, NY
Join us for a discussion of ongoing high tunnel fertility management for summer tomato crops, high tunnel soil health, as well as other summer high tunnel crop options including cucumbers and basil.In addition there will be an update on leek moth in allium crops, a discussion of downy mildew in basil, and a
demonstration of an in-row flame weeder.
Ag Business Tuesdays - Warren County
July 25, 2017
1.5 hour appts between 9:00am to 4:00pm
Warrensburgh, NY
Are you a farmer in Eastern New York with a question about the management side of your farm business? The Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team, in collaboration with CCE County offices, is offering free farm business technical assistance appointments this summer on Tuesdays at various locations in our service region. On Tuesday, July 25 from 9:00am-4:00pm we will be at CCE Warren County.Announcements
New Resources for Berry Crops
Berry Crop Diagnostics Tool - Much information exists on controlling plant pests and problems, but one must first identify the cause before intervention can occur. This diagnostic tool was developed to assist the student, grower, and extension educator in identifying potential causes of plant problems in berry crops
Cornell Berries YouTube Channel - Webinars and other videos that support our commercial berry production Extension and outreach
Coming soon: New NEWA berry pest forecasting tools
White Rot Update
NOW AVAILABLE: White Rot Fact Sheet: Click Here
White Rot, Sclerotinia cepivorum, decimated the onion industry in New York in the 1930's before being eradicated through careful management. More recently, in 2003, it infected 10,000 acres of garlic in California, leading to the abandonment of some garlic fields and adoption of strict containment rules. White rot has been confirmed in Northeastern states over the last decade as well, with New York being one of the last to discover the disease.
The primary reason that White Rot is such a concern is because the sclerotia, or reproductive structures, can remain dormant in the soil for up to 40 years, attacking any allium crop planted into the soil under favorable conditions. This spring was ideal for infection due to the period of cool, moist weather we had. Optimal temperature for infection is 60-65 degrees F, but infection can occur anywhere from 50-75 degrees F.
Once garlic has white rot, it generally declines rapidly. Leaves will yellow and the plant will wilt, not unlike a severe fusarium infection. However, unlike with fusarium, white rot infected bulbs are covered in black sclerotia and white fungus. To add to the confusion, another disease CAN look similar. Botrytis also causes black sclerotia and white fungal growth. However, Botrytis sclerotia are quite large, often larger than a pencil eraser.
So, what do we do now? We're still working on long-term management strategies, but the most important steps to take now are vigilance when culling (look at the plants you are pulling for symptoms like you see in this article, and if they are present, call us to take a sample and have the disease verified) and, if you see anything suspicious, reduction of movement of inoculum. The main ways diseases get moved around are by dumping culls (compost, field edges, etc) and my moving soil on equipment. Throw away your culls, and wash equipment that may have come in contact with suspicious garlic or the soil it is growing in. Everything from cultivation equipment to harvest bins should be cleaned.
We will keep learning about this disease and will keep sending out information, particularly to help you make decisions about what to sell and buy. For now, remember that the west coast has learned to manage the disease, and we will too. -Crystal Stewart, ENYCHP
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture - Cornell Cooperative Extension
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