Author: Justin Ballew
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Question of the Week – White Mold
What’s wrong with these kale leaves? These leaves are infected with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the causal fungus of white mold. White mold is showing up in brassica fields now in South Carolina. Initial development is initiated when cold weather triggers sclerotia (hard, black survival structures found in the soil) to produce tiny mushrooms that release spores.…
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Weekly Field Update – 3/3/25
The weather this past week gave us a preview of Spring, which is only a couple weeks away. Strawberry growers have begun fertilizing and will protect blooms from frosts from here on out. Blueberries and peaches are beginning to bloom and some spring brassicas are going into the ground. See details below. This past week,…
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Question of the Week – Grass Spiders
What created this webbing that Anna Sara found in her lawn? Early one morning the dew was lying thick on the grass and the fog was hanging heavy in the air. It reminded me of the Burl Ives foggy, foggy dew song. As the sun rose and started burning away the dense fog, I noticed some…
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Biologicals Made Easy: Grouping and Understanding Biological Fungicides
Johanna Wesche and Guido Schnabel, Clemson University Biologicals are gaining interest in modern agriculture for several reasons. They are used in organic farming to suppress pests and diseases and may have a place in spray programs used in conventional farming when disease pressure is low, when fungicide efficacy is threatened by resistance development, or when…
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Weekly Field Update – 2/24/25
After a few cold nights, things will be warming up this week. Peaches and blueberries are starting to come out of dormancy and strawberries are starting to wake up as well. Be ready to act as pest activity is expected to increase as temperatures rise. See details below. SC Farm Bureau has extended the deadline…
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Good Progress on Breeding a Downy Mildew-Resistant Pickling Cucumber, 2024 Update
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath I am part of an exciting collaboration with Dr. Michael Mazourek from Clemson University to help him complete the breeding and selection process for a new pickling cucumber with high levels of resistance to downy mildew. Field work at the Clemson Coastal REC in Charleston started last fall. We…
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QotW Grower Spotlight – Rosebank Farms
Where is Zack this week? In this month’s Grower Spotlight, Zack is visiting a Lowcounty gem of a farm. Rosebank Farms, operated by Sidi Limehouse, is located on the far end of John’s Island and has been in business since 1975. The farm grows a variety of fruits and vegetables that supply the bustling restaurant scene…
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Can Biological Products and Soil Amendments Help With Bacterial Disease Management in Peaches?
From Guido Schnabel, Hehe Wang, Juan Carlos Melgar, Ayodeji Idowu, Junaed Ahmed, Rongzhong Ye, and Michael Vassalos I think we can all agree that peaches produced in commercial peach orchards in South Carolina are special. They are sold locally at farm stands and many retail stores along the East Coast. You may not know that…
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Weekly Field Update – 2/17/25
Growers have been busy making preparations for spring planting. With bitter cold coming this week, strawberry growers are expected to cover fields in most parts of the state. Spider mites and neopest are active in many places, so plan miticide and fungicide applications accordingly. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab…
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Question of the Week – Cattail Seed
Where did this mass of fluff come from? This ball of “fluff” got my attention one day while scouting collards. I thought a bush hog had dismantled some insulation. To my surprise, when I approached the pile of fluff, I realized that it was not insulation but rather a large mass of cattail seeds. This…
The South Carolina Grower 