Weekly Field Update – 4/25/22

Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to see this week’s Question of the Week and check back on Thursday for the answer!

Coastal Region

Rob Last reports, “Some welcome rainfall last week will help establish cucumbers and watermelon. Cucumber beetles are present in a large number of fields at present. While this is the first flux of the beetles managing the pest now can pay dividends for protecting the crop. The neonicotinoids applied through drip systems can effectively offer a longer control period. Dinotefuran is also very effective either as a foliar spray or through the drip.

 

Some earlier planted watermelons are displaying vine run, so now would be an excellent time to consider beginning the disease management program. Do not mix copper and chlorothalonil if you are looking at copper applications for bacterial fruit blotch. The safer alternative is mancozeb.

 

Blueberries and strawberries are all coming to market with good quality and volumes. Botrytis and anthracnose are apparent in most strawberry crops. Remember to keep rotating fungicides with different modes of action and also practice good hygiene and sanitation.”

Midlands

Sarah Scott reports, “We are drying out some and field conditions are improving. Peaches are developing nicely however we are noticing fruit that isn’t developing to correct size in some early varieties, due to damage from freeze events. The mid to late season varieties still look nice though and overall there should be a good crop this year. Fertilizer applications are going out. Remember to maintain spray schedules and fertilizer regimens even in fields with low yield potential. The goal is a healthy tree and you want to set up next year’s crop for success even if there isn’t much of one this year.

In strawberries, botrytis has been showing up in the past week most likely due to wet and warm conditions. Remember that Clemson now offers fungicide resistance testing at the plant diagnostic clinic. Contact your local agent and ask for details if you feel you are having more botrytis break through than usual or if you just want to test for resistance in the products you are applying.”

Upstate

Kerrie Roach reports, “Warmer temperatures and dry weather over the last week have really started to get things going in the upstate. Cold temperatures from a few weeks ago did not damage the apple crop as much as projected. Early varieties like mutsu were bitten significantly by the cold, but most other varieties are ok. Peaches took a harder hit, but it appears as though Elberta made it through the cold unscathed.

After the next week, it is finally time to plant our warm season vegetable crops. Many growers are staggering planting with some early, mid and late plantings with hopes of making it through without another killing frost.”

Question of the Week

For this week’s question, take a look at the photo below. What is this on the underside of this crepe myrtle limb?

Answer in the comments below and check back on Thursday to see the answer.