As the weather warms, strawberry crops are progressing rapidly across the state. Growers are beginning disease control programs and scouting for mites. Spring veggies are starting to go in to the ground along the coast. See details below.
Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss any of our winter/spring meetings. Also, check out the latest episode of the SC Grower Exchange Podcast below.
Don’t forget to look at our Resources tab for links to crop handbooks, helpful websites, and related blogs. 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
Anna Sara Hill
- Last week the weather was all over the place, cold, warm, temperate, sunny, cloudy, very windy and today we are seeing some much-needed rain. Despite the crazy weather, growers are busy prepping fields fumigating and laying plastic. Planting season is right around the corner.
- A few growers have started planting corn.
- It is the tail end of the season for harvesting fall-planted vegetables. The cool weather has helped to extend the season. Some beautiful Red Russian kale, cabbage, and carrots being harvested this past week.
- The cold weather we have experienced winter minimized disease issues and killed many would-be insect pests. Another benefit of the cold weather was that it sweetened brassicas, leafy greens, and root crops. As a defense response to the cold weather the vegetables concentrate the sugars in their cells, and this makes them sweeter.
Zack Snipes
- We had a few cool nights last week where we had to cover strawberries, but hopefully that is behind us now.
- Everything is looking great out and about in the fields.
- Blueberries are blooming, spring greens and onions are looking great, and ground is being prepared for spring crops.
- Our first tomato plantings are happening out on the Sea Islands. Its a very busy time of year for the growers.
Midlands
Rob Last
- As the spring-like conditions continue, crops on the whole are looking well.
- Strawberries are looking good with fertilizer being delivered to the crops. Fungicides are going to be critical remember to rotate active ingredients to prevent resistance.
- Mites are active in some crops so keep scouting.
- Brassicas look ok if a little behind. There is white mold present in overwintered crops which can be managed with a Fontelis and Switch rotation.
- Bacterial blight is present in cilantro crops, the disease is characterized by angular lesions which are vein limited. The lesion is initially watersoaked and varies in brown and tan color as the disease progresses. As with all bacterial diseases once lesions are established management is much more difficult.
Sarah Scott
- Peach trees are blooming across the Ridge and with the upcoming warm-up this week, some varieties will be in full bloom very soon. We are still pruning and putting out copper sprays. In fields that have incidence of bacterial canker/disease, it is a good idea to sanitize tools during pruning to prevent spread of infection. There are many commercially available sanitizers. Some growers use a Clorox solution which also works, but be cautious, as it can be more corrosive to equipment.
- Strawberries are progressing nicely with no issues to report just yet.
- Plastic is being laid in preparation for vegetable planting.
Upstate
Briana Naumuk
- Spring has sprung here in the Upstate. Most growers have finished pruning fruit trees. We are starting to see the beginning stages of bloom on peaches and plums. Some of the lower chill varities are in full bloom.
- Apple trees will begin to bloom in the coming months and are doing well. Now is the time to spray horticultural oil for San Jose Scale.
- Farmer’s markets in the area will begin to open in early May this year. Growers that utilize markets should be getting ready by completing any necessary applications.
- The forecast this week is looking dry with some hope of rain this weekend and warm temperatures should continue. We are in the beginning of March and aren’t out of frost/freeze danger yet. Keep a close eye on the weather for any changes.
Andy Rollins
- Field grown strawberry plants have begun bloom in the Upstate. Growers are encouraged to use Captan and or Thiram to protect blooms from fungal infection. Some that haven’t started bloom are using Rovral now, which is a systemic, but we need to keep a protectant on plants as well. We are continuing to fertigate and will increase to the 1lb N per day when we reach 2-3 green fruit per plant. Tissue samples of petioles should be steadily increasing to 3000 ppm prior to beginning harvest. We are finding spider mites and large aphid populations on some farms.
- Blackberry and blueberry farms are putting out preemergent herbicides mainly Chateau EZ and Rely/Interline glyphosonate burn down.
Question of the Week – Grower Spotlight
Where has Andy been this week?
Answer in the comments below and check back on Thursday to see the answer.
The South Carolina Grower 