LATEST POSTS
-
Question of the Week – Thrips and Mites
What is causing the discoloration on these strawberry plants that were found for sale at a popular chain store? The foliage of these plants shows symptoms of infestation of both spider mites and western flower thrips. Whether you are buying plants for large-scale commercial use or just for home, always check for pests—insects, mites, and…
-
Weekly Field Update – 2/3/25
As temperatures warm up this week growers are keeping eye out for mite and disease issues. Agents urge growers to sanitize brassica fields to avoid secondary disease infections, like white mold, following widespread cold damage. Some strawberry growers are thinking about starting spring fertigation. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab…
-
Question of the Week – Cold Damage
What is wrong with the leaves of this Lacinato kale? This kale is showing symptoms of cold damage on the older leaves. Lacinato kale seems to be a little more sensitive to the cold than curly varieties like Winterbor or Darkibor. Luckily, the new growth is fine, meaning the plant will grow out of this…
-
Weekly Field Update – 1/27/25
Snow fell over most of the state last week with the Costal and Pee Dee regions seeing the most accumulation. Cold weather make for icy conditions over much of the week as the snow melted slowly during the day, then turned to ice overnight. While the weather held up a lot of work, growers will…
-
Question of the Week – Minute Pirate Bug
What is the tiny critter on this pumpkin blossom? This tiny black and white insect is a minute pirate bug (Orius insidiosus.), also called the insidious flower bug. Minute pirate bugs are beneficial insects and are excellent predators of small soft-bodied pests, such as thrips, mites, aphids, whiteflies, scale, and even small caterpillars. They are…
-
Weekly Field Update – 1/21/25
The Weekly Field Updatesare back for 2025! We hope the year is off to a good start for everyone. This week, growers are preparing for the cold and some possible snow/ice in parts of the state. Strawberries are a mixed bag with root rot, crown rot, and Neopest showing up in places. Brassicas are showing…
The South Carolina Grower 