Author: Justin Ballew
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Weekly Field Update – 2/19/24
We have lots of meetings coming up over the next few months, so be sure to keep a close eye on the Upcoming Events tab so you don’t miss anything. Coming up this week we have the Upstate Strawberry Meeting in Gaffney, and a Cucurbit Production Meeting in Blackville. Also, check out the latest episode…
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Farmers Market Price Survey
Please consider helping Clemson’s Agribusiness team by filling out this short survey. The survey will help gauge the need for a farmers market pricing program that would gather sales prices of fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets across South Carolina. This pricing information would be summarized and made into a publicly available price report. The…
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Question of the Week – Fava Beans
What is this crop that is growing on John’s Island in Charleston? Fava beans or broad beans are grown in small acreages in South Carolina. They are grown in the cooler times of the year and have a similar growing cycle to a sweet or English pea. They are a legume, so they add nitrogen…
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White Mold on Kale and Other Cool-Season Vegetables
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath Sclerotinia white mold, a cool-season disease on several different vegetable crops, is present on collard and (probably) on kale. It is particularly common on over-wintered crops. The white mold fungus has a complex life cycle. The fungus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, survives long-term and over the summer as sclerotia in soil.…
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Weekly Field Update – 2/12/24
We have lots of meetings coming up over the next few months, so be sure to keep a close eye on the Upcoming Events tab so you don’t miss anything. Coming up this week we have an Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation Workshop in Charleston. Also, check out last week’s episode of the SC Grower Exchange Podcast…
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Question of the Week – Blueberry Pruning
This week, the question was: Of these two shoots that were pruned from a blueberry plant, which would have produced larger, higher quality berries? Blueberries, like many perennial crops, need pruning for maximum yield and fruit quality. I was in the field recently and saw a bush full of buds (material on the left). However,…
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Weekly Field Update – 2/5/24
We have lots of meetings coming up over the next few months, so be sure to keep a close eye on the Upcoming Events tab so you don’t miss anything. Coming up this week we have a Tractor Driving Contest, Farm Safety, and Soil Health Workshop in Charleston, the Midlands Spring Vegetable Meeting in Pelion,…
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Question of the Week – Cold Damage
This week, the question was: What is wrong with the leaves of this citrus tree? These leaves are showing symptoms of cold injury. This tree is part of a study at the Sandhill REC in Columbia looking at 9 varieties of citrus that are believed to have improved cold tolerance. So far this winter, we…
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Weekly Field Update – 1/29/24
We have lots of meetings coming up over the next few months, so be sure to keep a close eye on the Upcoming Events tab so you don’t miss anything. As you prepare for the 2024 season, take a look at this article from agribusiness agent Kevin Burkett about being mindful of overhead expenses. Don’t…
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Question of the Week – Jelly Fungus
This week, the question was: What is the dark-colored thing growing on this branch? This is a jelly fungus. Jelly fungi are usually found growing on dead or dying branches. Jelly fungi often swell when there is plenty of moisture in the air (pictured) and shrink when the air is dry. Lichen (the light greenish-grey,…
The South Carolina Grower 