vegetables

Organic Production and IPM Guide for Vegetables

Explore 25 chapters of guidance on integrated pest management in organic agriculture

Integrated pest management in organic agriculture

Organic agriculture is a production system that maximizes the benefits of biological processes, or ecosystem services, to cycle nutrients, suppress insects, diseases and weeds, and minimize environmental impacts. Well-managed organic farms also support local ecosystems by maintaining pollinator and wildlife habitats, which in turn benefit the farm.

An integrated pest management (IPM) approach is essential for successful pest control in organic systems. IPM is a strategy that utilizes a variety of tactics, including pest prevention, monitoring and accurate identification, alongside biological, cultural, physical and chemical controls.

While there is no single formula for developing a successful organic farm, the "Organic Production and IPM Guide for Vegetables" provides growers with the information and tools needed to develop systems that optimize their natural, human and economic resources.

General guidance chapters

Access comprehensive, foundational resources for your organic farming operation. Download individual PDF chapters covering essential agricultural practices and overarching IPM strategies, ranging from soil and nutrient management and cover cropping to food safety, weed control and sprayer technology.

Open the downloaded document in a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat to navigate using the embedded table of contents bookmarks.

A scenic, wide-angle view of a diverse agricultural field bathed in the golden light of late afternoon. Long, straight, parallel rows of various crops in different stages of growth stretch across the dark brown soil, featuring vibrant greens of lettuces and brassicas, and patches of reddish-purple plants. Bright sun rays stream in from the upper right corner. In the background, lush mature trees line the property, and white farm buildings, including a barn and a high tunnel sit nestled against distant hills
Overview of Organic Production and Integrated Pest Management (pdf)
A wide view of a farm landscape under a cloudy sky. In the foreground, a muddy dirt track cuts through green grass and wild white flowers. Behind this are several large, long windrows of dark brown compost or soil, alongside a lighter brown pile. In the background sit various farm structures, including a white barn with a gray roof, a smaller red-roofed building, and white high tunnels, all backed by a dense green treeline. Clothes hang on a line next to the white barn.
Soil and Nutrient Management (pdf)
A sunny field of flowering purple clover, taken from a low angle with the blue sky in the background.
Cover Crops (pdf)
people in a field planting transplants
General Culture and Transplant Production (pdf)
Wash station on a farm featuring easy to wash table surfaces, heads of lettuce upside down in orange plastic crates, and other wash crates stored on shelves rather than on the ground.
Food Safety and Postharvest Handling (pdf)
A close up of yellowed cucurbit plants with brown, desiccated and curled leaves
Disease Management for Organic Vegetable Production (pdf)
About 10 striped cucumber beetles forage and feed on an open cucurbit flower.
Insect Management for Organic Vegetable Production (pdf)
A manual seeder or push planter viewed from the side, parked in freshly agitated light brown soil.
Weed Management for Organic Vegetable Production (pdf)
Aerial view of a tractor spraying crops across a large green agricultural field, with sunlight casting long shadows and highlighting the neat rows of plants.
Pesticide Use and Sprayer Technology (pdf)

Vegetable-specific chapters

Explore detailed, crop-specific organic production and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) guidelines. Download individual PDF chapters tailored to the unique pest management needs of a wide variety of vegetables, ranging from asparagus and leafy brassicas to tomatoes and sweet corn.

Open the downloaded document in a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat to navigate using the embedded table of contents bookmarks.

Two rows of mature asparagus plants that have "ferned out" in an agricultural field. The plants emerge from dry, cloddy brown soil with thick, smooth green stalks at the base that transition into a dense, tall canopy of fine, feathery green foliage dotted with tiny yellowish developing seeds or flowers.
Asparagus (pdf)
A wide view of a large agricultural field showing long, straight, parallel rows of lush, bushy green plants, likely a bean crop. The reddish-brown soil between the rows is mostly bare, with some scattered small rocks and sparse weed growth. A dark green tree line borders the far edge of the field under an overcast sky.
Beans — Dry, Snap, and Lima (pdf)
A pile of freshly harvested beets resting on a light blue slatted wooden table. The beets feature deep reddish-purple, round roots with small, stringy taproots extending from the bottoms. Attached are vibrant green leaves with thick, bright magenta stems and veins. The leafy greens appear slightly wet, giving the freshly picked vegetables a dewy look against the pale blue background.
Beets (pdf)
A close-up, top-down view of a green cabbage plant. Its tightly packed, pale green central head is surrounded by large, loose outer leaves featuring prominent, lighter-colored veins and slightly ruffled edges. Sunlight illuminates the varied green tones of the leaves. The plant sits against a dark background, likely black landscape fabric, with one dried, yellow-brown leaf visible on the right side.
Heading and Leafy Brassicas (pdf)
Two rows of mature asparagus plants that have "ferned out" in an agricultural field. The plants emerge from dry, cloddy brown soil with thick, smooth green stalks at the base that transition into a dense, tall canopy of fine, feathery green foliage dotted with tiny yellowish developing seeds or flowers.
Carrot (pdf)
A healthy squash plant, likely zucchini, grows on black plastic mulch surrounded by light brown straw. The plant features thick green stems radiating outward and large, deeply lobed dark green leaves with distinct silvery-white mottling. Two bright yellow-orange blossoms, partially closed, are visible nestled among the stems near the plant's center.
Cucurbits: Cucumber, Melon, Pumpkin, Squash, and Watermelon (pdf)
A smooth, elongated white eggplant hangs from its green stem close to the dark soil. The plant features several prominent leaves that are yellowing and mottled with brown spots, indicating possible disease or stress, alongside some healthier green leaves.
Eggplant (pdf)
A close-up view of a pile of freshly washed, wet mixed salad greens. The pile features a variety of textures and colors, including bright green, frilly-edged leaves, smooth pale green leaves, and dark red or purple-tinged leaves. Glistening water droplets are visible across the crisp foliage.
Lettuce (pdf)
A low-angle view looking down a row of tall, vibrant green onion plants growing through clear plastic mulch in an agricultural field. Dry, golden straw is laid out in the pathways between the planted rows. To the left, neighboring rows feature newly sprouted seedlings and larger, leafy green vegetable plants. In the distance, a dark green tree line stretches across the horizon under an overcast sky.
Onion, Shallot, and Leek (pdf)
A close-up of a green pea plant growing in dry, cloddy soil. The plant features broad, rounded green leaves with faint lighter veining, sturdy pale green stems, and many delicate, curling tendrils extending outward. A few young, flat, tightly closed green pea pods are nestled and partially hidden among the dense foliage.
Peas (pdf)
A close-up view of a pepper plant heavily laden with glossy bell peppers in various stages of ripening. The peppers display a striking mix of colors, including solid bright red, yellow-orange, and several with deep purple and brownish mottling over a yellow base. Vibrant green leaves, some speckled with water droplets, surround the clustered fruit, with dry garden soil visible at the bottom right corner.
Pepper (pdf)
A close-up view of a potato plant featuring lush, bright green leaves with a heavily textured, crinkly surface and prominent veins. Nestled among the foliage on the right side is a small cluster of delicate white flowers, each centered with a distinct, bright yellow, cone-shaped stamen. A small patch of dry, grey-brown garden soil is visible in the lower left corner.
Potato (pdf)
A close-up view along a row of leafy green spinach plants growing close to dry, crumbly brown soil. A thin black drip irrigation line runs directly through the center of the row, partially covered by the foliage. Several small grassy weeds are interspersed among the broad, slightly crinkled spinach leaves.
Spinach (pdf)
A dense field of tall, green corn plants, heavily topped with blooming pale yellow tassels. The broad, overlapping leaves create a thick canopy across the rows. To the right, a patch of bare, dry soil is visible along the field edge. A dark, solid treeline borders the background under a slightly overcast sky.
Sweet Corn (pdf)
A close-up view of a tomato plant featuring several large, smooth, pale green unripe tomatoes hanging from their vines. The clustered fruit is nestled heavily among dense, slightly crinkled green leaves. A few smaller green tomatoes are partially visible in the background shadows.
Field Tomato (pdf)
A vibrant, sunlit display of freshly harvested radishes grouped in bunches with their lush green tops attached. The foreground features elongated, bright pinkish-red radishes with white tips next to a bunch of round, deep purple radishes. Small, round red radishes are visible behind them. The bunches are secured with brown bands. Dark, crinkly kale leaves border the right side of the frame.
Turnip, Rutabaga, Radish, and Kohlrabi (pdf)

Authors, acknowledgments and more information

Authors

Coordinating editors

  • Abby Seaman, Cornell Integrated Pest Management
  • Jill Eccleston, Cornell Integrated Pest Management
  • Mary Kirkwyland, Cornell Integrated Pest Management

Contributors

  • Gary Bergstrom, Cornell University, SIPS Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section
  • Thomas Bjorkman, Cornell University, SIPS Horticulture Section
  • Bryan Brown, Cornell Integrated Pest Management
  • Elizabeth Buck, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Vegetable Program
  • Juliet Carroll, Cornell Integrated Pest Management
  • Kaitlin Diggins, Cornell University, SIPS Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section
  • Ethan Grundberg, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program
  • Walter DeJong, Cornell University, SIPS Plant Breeding and Genetics Section
  • Frank Hay, Cornell University, SIPS Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section
  • Mike Helms, Pesticide Safety Education Program, Cornell Integrated Pest Management
  • Christy Hoepting, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Vegetable Program
  • Julie Kikkert, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Vegetable Program
  • Margie Lund, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Vegetable Program
  • Meg McGrath, Cornell University, SIPS Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section
  • Sandra Menasha, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Suffolk County
  • Brian Nault, Cornell University, Department of Entomology
  • Sarah Pethybridge, Cornell University, SIPS Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section
  • Stephen Reiners, Cornell University, SIPS Horticulture Section
  • Elsa Sánchez, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Science
  • Chris Smart, Cornell University, SIPS Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section
  • Crystal Stewart-Courtens, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program
  • Marion Zuefle, Cornell Integrated Pest Management

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Conor Darcy, Ben Knowlton and Marcus Lopez for technical support.

Thank you to Jody Benedict, Carrie Carmenatty and Henry Zelenak for digital production and promotion.

Special appreciation for contributions to previous versions of this resource: George S. Abawi, Helene R. Dillard, Donald E. Halseth, Michael P. Hoffmann, Chuck Mohler, Curt Petzoldt, Anu Rangarajan, Anthony M. Shelton, Liz Thomas, and Thomas A. Zitter.

About the guide

The content and format of this guide is adapted from the Cornell Integrated Crop and Pest Management Guidelines for Commercial Vegetable Production.

The guidelines in this bulletin reflect the current (and past) authors’ best effort to interpret a complex body of scientific research, and to translate this into practical management options. Following the guidance provided in this bulletin does not assure compliance with any applicable law, rule, regulation or standard, or the achievement of particular discharge levels from agricultural land. 

Every effort has been made to provide correct, complete, and up-to-date pest management information for New York State at the time this publication was released (July 2026). Changes in pesticide registrations, regulations, and guidelines occurring after publication are available in county Cornell Cooperative Extension offices or from the Cornell IPM Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).

Trade names used herein are for convenience only. No endorsement of products is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products implied.

This guide is not a substitute for pesticide labeling. Always read the product label before applying any pesticide.

This work was supported in part by the Smith-Lever Project #2021-22-199 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.

Support was also provided by the Cornell Integrated Pest Management Program, which is funded through Cornell University, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and USDA-NIFA – Extension Implementation Program (EIP) Award #2024-70006-43573 – Accession #1033151. 

A note on the pesticide efficacy estimates included in these guides

Insecticide and fungicide efficacy estimates were calculated mainly from trial results published in Arthropod Management Tests (published by the Entomological Society of America) and Plant Disease Management Reports (published by the American Phytopathological Society). Some pesticides allowed for organic production have been tested in many trials; others very few. Our goal was to present objective estimates by averaging the percent improvement provided by a given active ingredient compared with an untreated control, and to indicate how many trials were included in the calculation. We also indicate how many of the results included in the calculation were different (as determined by a statistical analysis) from the untreated control. When compiling a collection of trial results there is often a wide range of levels of improvement for a given pesticide/pest combination because of different rates of application, pest pressure, weather conditions, and a variety of other factors. The estimates provided here should not be considered a guarantee that a given pest reduction can be expected.

Seaman A, Eccleston J, Kirkwyland M, coordinating editors. 2026 July 29. Organic Production and IPM Guide for Vegetables. Bergstrom G, Bjorkman T, Brown B, Buck E, Carroll J, Diggins K, Grundberg E, DeJong W, Hay F, Helms M, Hoepting C, Kikkert J, Lund M, McGrath M, Menasha S, Nault B, Pethybridge S, Reiners S, Sánchez E, Smart C, Stewart-Courtens C, Zuefle M, contributing authors. Cornell Integrated Pest Management. [accessed <YYYY MM DD>]. https://cals.cornell.edu/integrated-pest-management/research-initiatives/publications/cornell-ipm-organic-production-and-ipm-guide-for-vegetables.

Related links

Contributing experts with CALS profiles

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Abby Seaman

Extension Support Specialist

Cornell Integrated Pest Management

Abby Seaman
Vegetables
Organic Production
thomas bjorkman
Thomas Björkman

Professor Emeritus

School of Integrative Plant Science

Horticulture Section

Cornell AgriTech

Thomas Björkman
  • tnb1 [at] cornell.edu
Vegetable crop physiology
Cover crops
Establishing year-round Eastern broccoli industry
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Bryan Brown

Integrated Weed Management Specialist

Cornell Integrated Pest Management

Adjunct Assistant Professor

School of Integrative Plant Science

Horticulture Section

Bryan Brown
Integrated weed management
Culturally appropriate extension
Weed seedbank dynamics
Elizabeth Buck
Elizabeth Buck

Fresh Market Vegetable Specialist

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Elizabeth Buck
Julie Carroll
Juliet Carroll

Senior Extension Associate, Emerita (retired – active)

School of Integrative Plant Science

Juliet Carroll
  • jec3 [at] cornell.edu
Integrated pest management
Tree Fruit
Grapes and Berries
headshot of Kaitlin Diggins
Kaitlin Diggins

Graduate Student (Pethybridge Lab)

School of Integrative Plant Science

Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section

Kaitlin Diggins
  • krd78 [at] cornell.edu
Ethan Grundberg
Ethan Grundberg

Regional Vegetable Specialist

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Ethan Grundberg
Onion production in muck soils
Adapting reduced tillage practices to muck soils
Small farm equipment
Walter De Jong
Walter De Jong

Professor

School of Integrative Plant Science

Plant Breeding and Genetics Section

Walter De Jong
Potato breeding and genomics
Molecular genetics
Insect, disease and nematode resistance
Frank Hay
Frank Hay

Senior Extension Associate

School of Integrative Plant Science

Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section

Cornell AgriTech

Frank Hay
Fusarium basal rot of garlic
Root knot and lesion nematode of potato
Stemphylium leaf blight of onion
portrait of a Mike Helms
Michael Helms

Pesticide Safety Education Program Leader

Cornell Integrated Pest Management

Michael Helms
Christy Hoepting
Christy Hoepting

Senior Regional Vegetable Specialist

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Christy Hoepting
Julie Kikkert
Julie R. Kikkert

Senior Extension Associate

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Julie R. Kikkert
Horticulture
Vegetable Crops
Margie Lund
Margie Lund

Vegetable Specialist

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Margie Lund
Meg McGrath
Margaret McGrath

Associate Professor Emeritus

School of Integrative Plant Science

Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section

Margaret McGrath
Diseases of vegetable crops
Powdery mildew, downy mildew, Phytophthora blight and basil downy mildew
Fungicide resistance
Brian Nault portrait
Brian Nault

Professor

Department of Entomology

Cornell AgriTech

Brian Nault
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Sarah Pethybridge

Associate Professor

School of Integrative Plant Science

Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section

Cornell AgriTech

Sarah Pethybridge
Diseases of vegetables
Sclerotinia
Epidemiology and fungicide resistance
Steve Reiners
Steve Reiners

Retired faculty

School of Integrative Plant Science

Horticulture Section

Cornell AgriTech

Steve Reiners
Processing vegetables (peas, beans, sweet corn)
Vegetable production systems
Organic gardening
Chris Smart
Christine Smart

Goichman Family Director

Cornell AgriTech

Professor

School of Integrative Plant Science

Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section

Christine Smart
Biology and management of vegetable diseases
Host-pathogen interactions
woman in greenhouse
Crystal Stewart Courtens

Regional Vegetable Specialist

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Crystal Stewart Courtens
Organic production
Garlic production
Seed production
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Marion Zuefle

Vegetable IPM Coordinator

Cornell Integrated Pest Management

Marion Zuefle
Invasive species
Exotic pests and diseases
Using soil temperature readings to suggest when weeds are likely to germinate