Author: Justin Ballew
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Question of the Week – TSWV
What is going on with this Roma tomato? The tie-dye appearance of this tomato is due to it being infected by tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). TSWV is an important virus of tomato, pepper, eggplant, peanuts, tobacco, etc. that causes significant yield loss to affected plants. The virus is transmitted by thrips feeding. While TSWV…
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Weekly Field Update – 7/1/24
We hope everyone has a safe and happy Independence Day later this week! Parts of the state received some much-needed rain over the past several days. Hot weather is causing many crops to come to harvest faster than normal. Insect pressure is high, as is blossom end rot, and other heat-related issues. See details below.…
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2023 Crop Stats: Blueberries, Blackberries, and Snap Beans
In fall of 2023, Extension Agents throughout South Carolina surveyed growers on specialty crop acreage for the year. The goal was to identify the counties of production, acreage, and observable market prices for the year. In this round of surveys, data was collected for 14 fruit and vegetable crops. See the first three below.
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Question of the Week – Rocky Shoals Spider Lily
What is this flower that was found growing on a rock in the middle of a river? This is is a rocky shoals spider lily (Hymenocallis coronaria). This species is endemic to the Southeast and grows only in swift, shallow water environments, making the Catawba and Broad Rivers in South Carolina ideal habitats. The population…
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Weekly Field Update – 6/24/24
The heat continues throughout the state. Small fruits and peaches are being harvested in great quantities as disease and insect issues continue to develop in certain vegetable crops. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss anything. Also, check out the latest episode of the SC Grower…
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Question of the Week – Pink Lemonade Blueberry
What is wrong with these blueberries? This week was a trick question. Nothing is wrong with these blueberries! This is a variety called Pink Lemonade that when fully ripe, has a deep pink color. I don’t know if its because they are pink, but I personally think they taste slightly different than a blue blueberry. To me,…
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Weekly Field Update – 6/17/24
More hot, dry weather is in store for this week. Disease and insect pressure continues to increase as watermelon, small fruit, tomato, and peach harvest continues. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss anything. Also, check out the latest episode of the SC Grower Exchange Podcast…
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Question of the Week – Morning Glory Prominent
What kind of caterpillar is feeding on this buckeye leaf? This is the caterpillar of the morning glory prominent moth (Schizura ipomaeae). While the adult moth is rather nondescript, the caterpillar is very interesting. It is quite well camouflaged, and from a distance, it could be mistaken for necrotic tissue along the margin of a…
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Weekly Field Update – 6/10/24
Finally, a little rain fell around the state, though things remain fairly dry overall. Disease and insect pests are becoming more common as tomatoes, cucurbits, and sweet corn come to harvest. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss anything. Also, check out the latest episode of…
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More Evidence that Choosing Grafting or the Right Cultivar is More Important than Using Fungicides to Manage Fusarium Wilt of Watermelon
By Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath My 2024 Fusarium wilt experiment at Coastal REC, Charleston, SC, was a streamlined version of the 2023 experiment with 2 fungicides, 2 cultivars, and grafting, except we tested 1 different fungicide and 1 different cultivar. The 2024 results, however, matched the results from 2023 (see title). Already at 3…
The South Carolina Grower 