LATEST POSTS
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Why Reusing Watermelon Plastic for Watermelon is a Very Bad Idea and Other Plant Pathology Horror Stories
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath Extension agents have recently received some questions from growers about reusing plastic from a spring watermelon crop for a fall watermelon crop. This scenario is what I call a classic plant pathology “horror story.” It is literally the worst thing a watermelon, cantaloupe, or cucumber grower could do for…
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Weekly Field Update – 7/21/25
Another hot, humid week has passed. Growers are prepping fields for fall crops, and some planting has begun. As dry weather has set in, mites are becoming a problem in places. Disease pressure remains high in a variety of crops. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t…
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2025 Recommendations to Manage Powdery Mildew on Cucurbits
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath Results from a June 2025 bioassay with powdery mildew on susceptible yellow summer squash ‘Early Prolific’ showed that, although all 8 fungicides reduced powdery mildew, 4 worked better than the rest. The Best Fungicides To Manage Powdery Mildew on Cucurbits Torino, Quintec, Gatten, and Vivando completely suppressed powdery mildew…
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July Grower Spotlight – Phil Sandifer and Sons Farms
Where is Anna Sara visiting this week? For this month’s Grower Spotlight, and in celebration of National Watermelon Month, Anna Sara visited Phil Sandifer and Sons Farms. They are a third-generation family-run farm that specializes in commercial watermelon and cantaloupe production. The beautiful 2,300-acre farm is bordered by the South Fork of the Edisto River and…
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Weekly Field Update – 7/14/25
It has been hot and humid around the state. Several thunderstorms have come through the state bringing some much-needed rain. Plenty of disease is present, including gummy stem blight, anthracnose, and downy mildew. Piercing/sucking insects are causing damage as well. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t…
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Invasive Spotted Lanternfly Detected in South Carolina
From Clemson’s Department of Plant Industry The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), an invasive insect known for damaging grapes, hops, stone fruits, and hardwood trees, has been detected for the first time in South Carolina. Clemson University’s Department of Plant Industry (DPI) confirmed the presence of the pest in the cities of Greenville and Seneca. The…
