Author: Justin Ballew
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Weekly Field Update – 2/21/22
Coming up this week we have an in-person irrigation meeting and Part 1 of our virtual Brassica series. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our lineup of winter/spring meetings here. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to see this week’s Question of the Week and check back on Thursday…
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Planting Cucumbers Early Avoids Downy Mildew and Increases Yield without Fungicides
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath Growers who have flexibility in deciding when to plant cucumbers should plant them within 1 month of the earliest recommended planting date for their region. Planting dates for commercial growers are in the Southeast Vegetable Crop Handbook (Pg 75). Planting dates for home gardeners are in fact sheet HGIC…
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Question of the Week – Sclerotinia White Mold
This week, the question was: What is wrong with the stem and lower petioles of this cabbage plant? This plant is suffering from Sclerotinia white mold (caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), also called Sclerotinia stem rot. This disease is commonly observed this time of year as temperatures begin to warm up. It develops a…
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Grafting Reduces Southern Blight on Tomato by 83%
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath. Southern blight has become more common on tomatoes grown without fumigation throughout the southern United States. A joint project between the University of Georgia and Clemson University looked at grafting as a management option. In the 2021 trial in Charleston, SC, grafting reduced the percentage of diseased plants from…
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Weekly Field Update – 2/14/22
Happy Valentines Day! Coming up this week we have an in-person Peach meeting and Part 2 of our virtual Cucurbit series. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our lineup of winter/spring meetings here. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to see this week’s Question of the Week and check…
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Question of the Week – Grey Mold
This week, the question was: What is the fuzzy, grey stuff developing on the dead bloom? This is grey mold (Botrytis cinerea), the number 1 threat to strawberry yields in the southeast. As the weather begins to warm, we will start to see grey mold in every strawberry field and growers need to have fungicides…
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Weekly Field Update – 2/7/22
We have a couple cucurbit meetings coming up this week. One in-person on 2/8 and one virtual on 2/10. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our lineup of winter/spring meetings here. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to see this week’s Question of the Week and check back on…
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Question of the Week – Lady Beetle Eggs
For the ‘Question of the Week’ from Monday… These are lady beetle eggs laid on the underside of this leaf. Lady beetles, or ladybugs, are excellent predators of aphids and other soft bodied insects. Numerous species of lady beetles are commonly found in fruit in vegetable crops in South Carolina are easily recognized by their…
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Weekly Field Update – 1/31/22
Coming up this week is a virtual Small Fruit Production Meeting on 2/3. Click here to register and don’t forget to check out the rest of our lineup of winter/spring meetings here. Today we’ll be starting something new we’re calling the Question of the Week. At the end of today’s post will be a photo…
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Weekly Field Update – 1/24/22
Coming up this week is a two-day Produce Safety Rule Training on 1/26 and 1/27 and Part II of the Tomato and Pepper Meeting. To sign up for these programs and view all upcoming events, don’t forget to visit the Upcoming Events tab. Coastal Region Zack Snipes reports, “One of our weather stations in Mt.…
The South Carolina Grower 