LATEST POSTS
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Field Update – 6/10/19
Statewide Dr. Tony Keinath reported downy mildew being found on cucumbers in Bamberg County this past week. He cautioned all cucumber, cantaloupe, and watermelon growers to begin preventative sprays, if they are not already doing so. Refer back to this post for more info. Coastal Region Zack Snipes reports, “We finally got some much needed…
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Common Predatory Mites Found to Prey on Thrips
From Clemson Entomology Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Monica Farfan Predatory mites, such as this Proprioseiopsis mexicanus, the most commonly collected predatory mite in watermelon fields in South Carolina, are first line of defense in the case of an outbreak of pests, such as spider mites and thrips (shown here). Since these mites supplement their diets with pollen…
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Downy Mildew found in SC
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Dr. Tony Keinath: The first SC report of cucurbit downy mildew this year came on June 6 from a crop consultant, who found it on cucumbers in Bamberg County. Growers should spray all cucumber and cantaloupe crops to prevent or manage downy mildew. The cheapest downy mildew fungicide is Ranman. It…
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Field Update – 6/3/19
Statewide Dr. Tony Keinath reports,”Powdery mildew was found on watermelon at the Coastal REC on May 30. Typical symptoms of powdery mildew on watermelon are distinct yellow spots, although the spots may be indistinct yellow blotches rather than round spots. The symptoms seen this week included more browning than is typical for the size of…
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Field Update – 5/28/19
Statewide Dr. Tony Keinath reports, “Downy mildew has moved into south Georgia on cucumber and watermelon. Growers should have downy mildew fungicides on hand and be ready to spray cucumber, cantaloupe, and watermelon when rain starts in the lower half of the state. A preventative spray of mancozeb or chlorothalonil would be a good idea…
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Testing What Controls Downy Mildew in Cucumbers – and What Doesn’t
From Clemson Plant Pathologist, Dr. Tony Keinath. Small growers can manage downy mildew on slicing cucumber and increase yields by growing a partially resistant cultivar, like Bristol, and spraying weekly with moderate-cost fungicides, like chlorothalonil rotated with Ranman. Trellising doesn’t help manage downy mildew. Read Dr. Keinath’s full article about testing cultural and chemical controls…
The South Carolina Grower 