Author: Justin Ballew
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Weekly Field Update – 9/8/25
The weather has dried up enough to allow growers to prep fields for more fall planting. Strawberry fields are being bedded and fumigated. Muscadines are being harvested now and look great. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss any of our winter/spring meetings. Also, check out…
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Question of the Week – Creeping Cucumber
What vine has covered the ground and is crawling up this tree? This vine is creeping cucumber (Melothria pendula). It’s in the cucurbit family, most closely related to cucumbers and melons, and native to the southeastern US and Mexico. The green, unripe fruit is generally considered safe to eat and tastes like a strong cucumber. However, the…
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Weekly Field Update – 9/2/25
Cooler weather this past week has given us a preview of Fall. Though the moisture has dried up, we are still seeing elevated levels of disease. Spider mite and caterpillar populations are climbing in places also. 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 – Corn Smut
What is Zack cooking this week? Corn smut (Ustilago maydis) is quite the unattractive name for a very delicious fungus. In my opinion, a more fitting and fancier name is given to the delicacy in Hispanic cultures—huitlacoche or Mexican truffle. The fungus overwinters in the soil and infects corn ears via the silk. The fungus then…
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Weekly Field Update – 8/25/25
We received more rain over most of the state last week which is holding up some field operations. Two-spotted cotton leafhoppers have been found in most okra and eggplant fields on the coast. Disease remains high also. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss any of…
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Question of the Week – Yellow Watermelon
Why did this watermelon get so sunburned? This is no sunburn. It’s a watermelon with a yellow rind! At the recent Watermelon Field Day, we had the opportunity to look at and taste many new and existing lines of watermelons in the field. This one yellow-rind watermelon named Tropical Apollo caught my attention. At first…
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Weekly Field Update – 8/18/25
Though more rain fell last week, warm temperatures returned. Fall planting continues and establishment is going well. Disease pressure remains high as regular rain continues. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss any of our winter/spring meetings. Also, check out the latest episode of the SC…
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Preliminary Tomato Pricing Data From SC Farmers Market Price Reporting Project
From Kevin Burkett, Clemson Agribusiness Associate Vine-ripe juicy tomatoes are always a summertime favorite and one that can even cause a bit of competition. This can range from seeing who can grow the largest, who has the best variety, how oddly shaped one may appear, and of course which one makes the best tomato sandwich.…
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August Grower Spotlight – The Happy Berry
Where is Briana visiting this week? For this month’s Grower Spotlight, Briana is visiting a farm in the Upstate. The Happy Berry is nestled in the hills of Six Mile. The farm was started in 1979 with the goal of providing locally grown produce, while keeping the environment in mind. Walker Miller is the man…
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Weekly Field Update – 8/11/25
Rain and cooler temperatures continued for most of the week. As a result, disease pressure is high right now, so be sure to stay on top of management programs. The invasive two-spot cotton leafhopper was found in multiple crops near the coast last week. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab…
The South Carolina Grower 