Author: Justin Ballew
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Weekly Field Update – 5/5/25
Thunderstoms swept through parts of the state last week, bringing hail in some places. The coast remains dry. Root rot diseases are becoming more common in strawberries as harvest continues. Spider mites are getting out of control under high tunnels. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t…
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Question of the Week – Thinning Peaches
What is this piece of equipment used for? This is piece of equipment is used for shaking excess fruit off of peach trees. This year, the peach crop is plentiful, which can make it time consuming to thin only by hand. Some growers use these tree shakers to aid in removing some of the fruit…
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Weekly Field Update – 4/28/25
Most of the state welcomed some rain last week while parts of the coast remain dry. Crops are progressing well, though folks will need to beware of disease this week following the moisture. Mite and insect pressure has been climbing. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t…
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Time to Think About Cucumber Beetles
From Tom Bilbo, Extension Entomologist As the weather warms up and our summer vegetable crops get going, it’s time to be on the lookout for cucumber beetles in our various cucurbit crops. There are three species that we see in South Carolina: banded, spotted, and striped cucumber beetles, with the latter two being more problematic…
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Question of the Week – Growing Under Plastic
What is going on with this strawberry plant? This plant was growing under the plastic where it was deprived of sunlight. It seems that with each strawberry season we find new issues with the crop. Whether it is a disease, virus or new insect pest, strawberries keep us on our toes. From a distance this strawberry…
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Weekly Field Update – 4/21/25
Warm, dry weather has set in around the state, though we have some rain in the forecast this week. Disease levels have been low, but that could change with moistre. Mite populations are climbing with the dry conditions. Planting of spring crops is wrapping up. See details below. The American Farmland Trust is accepting applications…
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April Grower Spotlight – Atkinson Farms
Where is Christiana this week? In this month’s grower spotlight, Christiana is visiting Atkinson Farms, a roadside fruit and vegetable stand in Mullins, SC. They one of the only commercial strawberry growers in Marion County, making them a beloved choice among locals. Atkinson Farms has operated for over 100 years through several generations of Atkinsons. Like…
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Weekly Field Update – 4/14/25
Strawberries, as well as other spring crops, are growing like gangbusters. Peaches are being thinned and some early blueberries are sizing up. As the weather warms this week, keep a close eye out for spider mites. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss any of our…
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Question of the Week – Opossum
What happened to this strawberry? This strawberry was eaten by a possum, or more accurately, opossum. Opossums are the only marsupial native to the US. They are another common wildlife pest that loves strawberries, though unlike deer, they prefer the fruit. In this field they left tracks on several rows of plastic while they foraged. This…
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Weekly Field Update – 4/7/25
The warm weather has made strawberries, peaches, and blueberries jump. Strawberries are in full swing now and it’s a great time to visit the U-Picks. Moisture in the forecast this week is likely to bring an increase in disease pressure. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t…
The South Carolina Grower 