When you Google Francesca Hand, you’ll find a plethora of results – nursery management, Ohio Lawn Care Association, Master in Plant Health Management, Pretty Plants Doc, ornamental plant pathology. In a 151-page book titled “Plant Pathology in Ohio,” we learn that she is double degreed (B.Sc. and M....

A wide variety of techniques have been used by growers to extend the growing season. More recently, growers have employed row covers, low tunnels and high tunnels because of their simplicity and effectiveness in protecting crops from low temperatures. Row covers and tunnels don’t offer the precision...

Peach viruses aren’t all equally prevalent across the U.S., with growers in some regions experiencing threats uncommon in other areas. In 1999, Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan growers experienced an outbreak of plum pox virus (PPV), which as of 2019 is considered eradicated from the country. Tha...

One way to increase profits no matter your type of nursery business is to decrease input costs. Inputs include materials, time and labor. If labor costs are reduced, but output is the same, then the cost of doing business drops. If it takes less time to do a given task, then more time is available t...

Cucurbit downy mildew is caused by two types of the oomycyte Pseudoperonosora cubensis . The first type, known as Clade I, infects pumpkins, watermelon and squash. Clade II infects cucumbers and cantaloupe. Clade I is not seen as frequently as Clade II and shouldn’t be treated until it is detected i...

Hopefully by now, you’ve built your page and have familiarized yourself a bit with creating content, sharing posts and engaging with your community. If you’ve run into any problems along the way or have any specific questions, we’d love to answer them and help you reach you goals. To briefly recap: ...

As biological controls become more viable as complements or replacements for pesticides and other chemicals, more growers are finding ways to keep these predatory insects happy. According to a new study by researchers at the University of Copenhagen, predatory insects live longer when they have acce...

Now is the time to review your marketing plan and determine where you are spending the most money, if you are meeting your target audiences and planning for the best return on your marketing investment. The goal is to achieve a well-balanced plan that reaches across sales strategies and results in p...

Dave Chapman, owner of Long Wind Farm in East Thetford, VT, was the main speaker in the first of a three-part webinar series titled “High Tunnels After Dark: 2020 High Tunnel Production Conference.” The series was a collaboration between Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont Extension Services. Chapman’s...