• Home
  • About
    • IFVGA
    • History
    • Board of Directors & Staff
    • IFVGA Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
    • Contact Us
  • Membership
    • Join Now!
    • Member Benefits
    • Manage Account
  • Directory
  • Events
    • Listings
    • Iowa Specialty Producers Conference
  • News
  • Resources
    • Member Resources

Forgot password?

-

Upcoming Events

No current events

IFVGA Facebook Page

This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts. Backup cache in use.
Click to show error
Error: An access token is required to request this resource. Type: OAuthException
Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

2 months ago

Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
This week's Small Farm Sustainability's Podcast episode features the upcoming Iowa Specialty Producers Conference! Check it out below! 🎙 ... See MoreSee Less

smallfarmsustainability's podcast: 2021 Iowa Specialty Producers Conference

smallfarmsustainability.libsyn.com

In this episode, I interview Kendra Meyer, executive secretary for the Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, to talk about the upcoming Iowa Specialty Producers Conference.
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

2 months ago

Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
Mark your calendar for January 19-20, 2021, for the Iowa Specialty Producers Conference! Join the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the Iowa Wine Growers Association for two days of learning, networking, and fun. Funded by IDALS. Registration is now open at www.iowaspecialtyproducers.com/registration-page. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

2 months ago

Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
Mark your calendar for January 19-20, 2021, for the Iowa Specialty Producers Conference! Join the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the Iowa Wine Growers Association for two days of learning, networking, and fun. Funded by IDALS. Registration is now open at www.iowaspecialtyproducers.com/registration-page. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Associationlogo

Poor Fruit Set in the Vegetable Garden

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers AssociationJune 23, 2020

Richard Jauron
Extension Horticulturist
515-294-3108
rjauron@iastate.edu

Some plants grow well but don’t set fruit well, and this could happen because of a range of issues. A horticulture specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers advice on fruit set issues. For information on your specific plant questions, contact hortline@iastate.edu directly.

Tomatoes

Unfavorable weather conditions are the primary reason for blossom drop on tomatoes. High daytime temperatures (above 85 degrees Fahrenheit) and low nighttime temperatures (below 55 F) interfere with pollination, causing blossom drop. Optimal growing conditions for tomatoes are daytime temperatures of 70-85 F. (Cherry tomatoes set fruit over a wider temperature range than most large-fruited tomato cultivars.) Strong winds and dry soil conditions also may contribute to blossom drop. Strong winds desiccate flowers, while dry soil conditions stress tomato plants.

Favorable weather and good care should result in good fruit set.  Deeply water tomato plants once a week during dry weather.

Squash

Squash and other vine crops are monoecious. Monoecious plants have separate male and female flowers on the same plant. Male and female flowers are similar in appearance. However, female flowers have small, immature fruits at their base. Pollen is transferred from the male to the female flowers by bees and other pollinators. When properly pollinated and fertilized, the female flowers develop into fruit. The first flowers to appear on squash and other vine crops are predominately male. As a result, fruit production is poor when the plants begin to flower. The squash plants should begin producing a good crop within a few weeks as the number of female flowers increases.

Unfavorable weather and the use of insecticides also can affect fruit set on vine crops. Cool, rainy weather during bloom reduces bee activity. Fewer bees visiting the garden results in poor pollination and poor fruit set. Apply insecticides in the garden only when necessary to avoid harming bees and other pollinators.

Lima beans

Lima beans are not well adapted to growing conditions in Iowa. Lima beans grow best when temperatures are between 70 and 80 F. They also require 1 inch of water per week (either from rain or irrigation) during blossoming and pod development. Hot, dry conditions during blossoming may cause many of the flowers to drop off without setting pods. Excessive nitrogen fertilization promotes lush growth, but may also inhibit pod formation.

Bush-type cultivars usually perform better than pole cultivars in Iowa. Suggested bush-type cultivars include ‘Fordhook 242’ (large greenish white seeds, heat tolerant), ‘Eastland’ (3-inch pods contain dime-sized, greenish white flat beans), and ‘Henderson Bush’ (small white seeds, early maturing).

–Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

GoToOlder PostNewer PostAll Posts

Comments are closed.

  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Directory
  • Listings
Association websites powered by MembershipWorks