June 15 2006, 14:35

Rains positively influence root crops but threaten cucumbers and tomatoes in Cherkasy oblast

According to information provided to "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal by Sergey Strokan, the Market Information Specialist of Cherkasy office, Agricultural Marketing Project, heavy rainfalls have been observed everywhere in Cherkasy oblast recently. There was 30-50 mm of rainfalls during one day that practically equals monthly norm of precipitation.

Farmers say these rainfalls will positively influence growth and vegetation of such crops as carrot, red beets, onion, cabbage (especially late cabbage varieties). At the same time, such weather conditions can be dangerous to cucumbers and tomatoes, as cool rainy weather creates good conditions for progressing fungus diseases and weeds. As of today, no diseased cucumber and tomato plants can be visually detected on oblast's fields. However, to specialists' opinion, there is a great possibility for plants to disease if the producers have not applied preventive treatment on the crops before rainfalls.