LATEST POSTS
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Question of the Week – Cabbage Webworm
This week, the question was: There are diamondback moth caterpillars on the right. What is the caterpillar on the left? This is a cabbage webworm. Cabbage webworms feed near the growing points of brassica plants , often damaging the growing points and causing irregular growth. They frequently feed within webs that protect them from natural…
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Weekly Field Update – 10/10/22
A big congratulations to Kerrie Roach as she is transitioning to a new role as a Nursery Inspector with the Clemson Department of Plant Industry (DPI). Kerrie has served Extension and the great folks of Oconee, Anderson, and Pickens Counties extremely well in her 6 years as a horticulture agent. We will miss Kerrie very…
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Question of the Week – Garter Snake
This week, the question was: This little guy was hiding under a flower pot. What kind of snake is it, and is it venomous? This is an Eastern garter snake. These nonvenomous snakes are pretty common in South Carolina and are active most of the year. They feed primarily on frogs, toads, worms, slugs, and…
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Weekly Field Update – 10/3/22
Do you grow cole crops? Do you have diamondback moth in your fields? Have you experienced reduced efficacy of insecticides to manage them? We are looking for cole crop farms throughout SC to collect diamondback moth larvae from. We will test these larvae in the lab against a range of common insecticides to determine if…
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Question of the Week – Squash Beetle Trenching
This week, the question was: Why is a portion of this squash leaf discolored? The light-colored tissue we see here is the result of squash beetle behavior known as “trenching.” Trenching cuts off (at least temporarily) the translocation of cucurbitacin defense compounds, to preserve the palatability and quality of the squash foliage feeding site. The beetles…
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Hurricane Ian Preparation Considerations for Fruit and Vegetable Crops
Hurricane Ian is approaching the Southeast and is expected to bring significant amounts of rain and heavy winds to South Carolina over the weekend. The latest forecasts show Ian making landfall south of Tampa, FL, and traveling northeast towards the Atlantic, then northward through western South Carolina. In preparation for the storm, please be safe…
The South Carolina Grower 