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Vegetables
Volume 58 Number 13 Date 08/01/2013 LATE BLIGHT - Potato fields infected with late blight have been confirmed in Adams, Dunn, Juneau and Portage counties as of August 1. One case of the disease on tomato in Sauk County was also verified early last month. Potato growers should maintain a 5- to 7-day fungicide program, while home gardeners are advised to inspect tomato and potato plants daily for leaf lesions and fruit spots. If late blight is suspected and symptoms are widespread, plants should be destroyed and properly disposed of to prevent further disease spread. SQUASH VINE BORER - Moths are still active in Dane County and in other locations. Growers of pumpkins, zucchini and squash should continue checking susceptible plants for flat, brown eggs deposited at the base of stems as long as the moths are present. COLORADO POTATO BEETLE - Second generation larvae are appearing in potatoes in the southern and central areas. Late-season control of this pest may be warranted if defoliation exceeds 30% during tuber formation. Treatments should be applied when most of the population reaches the intermediate third instar stage, presuming this does not conflict with label recommendations or resistance management. Proper timing permits most eggs to hatch, but kills the larvae before they reach the destructive fourth instar. Potato producers are reminded to avoid the consecutive use of the same insecticide product or use of different products with similar modes of action. -- Krista Hamilton, DATCP Entomologist 
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