Month: July 2022
-
Question of the Week – Black Swallowtail
This week, the question was: What will this caterpillar munching on dill grow up to be? This is the caterpillar of the Eastern black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes). These caterpillars feed and develop on members of the carrot family, including dill, parsley, fennel, and celery. The black swallowtail is one of the more showy butterflies…
-
Choanephora Blight Found on Green Bean in Charleston
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath, Clemson Plant Breeder Sandra Branham, and Clemson Graduate Student Morgan Stone. Due to frequent rains, cloudy weather, and high humidity, Choanephora blight or wet rot was found throughout a one-acre planting of green bean cultivars and breeding lines at Coastal REC last week. Growers and home gardeners may see…
-
Weekly Field Update – 7/25/22
Check out Clemson Extension’s new weather data website! State weather station technician Christopher Thomas recently introduced the new site and has been working hard installing weather stations in all 46 counties of South Carolina over the last year. Eventually, the site will be able to give reports on historical weather data to help growers make…
-
Question of the Week – Blossom End Rot
This week, the question was: What’s going on with this watermelon? This watermelon is suffering from blossom end rot. This physiological disorder is also common in tomatoes and peppers. Blossom end rot results from a localized calcium deficiency in the fruit; however, this may not necessarily indicate a calcium deficiency in the soil. Blossom end…
-
Weekly Field Update – 7/18/22
Check out Clemson Extension’s new weather data website! Last week, state weather station technician Christopher Thomas introduced the new site at the Watermelon Field Day at the Edisto REC. Christopher has been working hard installing weather stations in all 46 counties of South Carolina over the last year. Eventually, the site will be able to…
-
Question of the Week – Sulphur Butterfly Chrysalis
This week, the question was: What is the pinkish-colored thing attached to this tomato stem? This is the chrysalis of a sulphur butterfly, most likely the cloudless sulphur (Pheobis sennae). The cloudless sulphur is a common butterfly in South Carolina seen frequently foraging wildflowers. The caterpillars feed on legume plants, specifically within the Chamaecrista and Senna genera.…
-
Weekly Field Update – 7/11/22
Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath has a new article featured in the American Vegetable Grower. Click here to read about “Why Disease Control is More Challenging on Leafy Greens.” Don’t forget about the Watermelon Field Day coming up this Thursday (7/14) at the Edisto Research Center (64 Research Rd.) in Blackville from 8am-1pm. Registration opens…
-
It’s Time to Spray Asparagus for Purple Spot
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath. Last October, purple spot was found on asparagus ferns in South Carolina. Information about the disease can be found in this excellent fact sheet from Oklahoma State. Because of the 6-month pre-harvest interval for fungicides sprayed on asparagus, it’s time for asparagus growers to scout their fields or make…
-
Question of the Week – Paper Wasp
This week, the question was: What is going on here? A friendly game of tag? This sulphur butterfly caterpillar probably wishes this was just a game of tag, but this predaceous paper wasp is going to use it to feed its larvae. Paper wasps are common insects in the garden and around structures, where they…
-
Weekly Field Update – 7/5/22
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, “Disease pressure is likely to continue to increase given the recent welcome rainfall. Gummy stem blight can be found in cucurbit fields along with…
The South Carolina Grower 