Category: Question of the Week
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September Grower Spotlight – The Farm 1780
Where is Rob visiting this week? The Farm 1780 is an eighth-generation family farm dating back to the original King’s land grant of 1787. Originally, the grant covered 986 acres; today, the farm comprises 34 acres and is run by Brett and McKenzie Flashnick. The Farm is located off Corley Mill Road in Lexington. Brett…
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Question of the Week – Pecan Grafting
Virtually all commercial pecan trees are grafted. The graft union on this young tree is about 6 inches above the soil line. Where did the first successful pecan grafting occur? The first successful pecan grafting took place in Edgefield, South Carolina, in 1822 by a physician and businessman named Abner Landrum. Though he was not…
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Question of the Week – Luffa Gourd
This came from a crop grown in South Carolina. What is it? This is a dried and peeled luffa gourd. This ornamental (and edible) squash grows from a sturdy vine and can produce fruit up to 2 feet long. While most commonly known for its dried use as a sponge or dishcloth, the young fruit…
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Question of the Week – Spider Wasp
In this battle, who is the aggressor and who is the victim? In this battle, the wasp is the aggressor and the spider is the victim. The predatory spider wasp, in the family Pompilidae, stings and paralyzes this golden silk orb-weaver spider (Trichonephila clavipes) to provide a food source for its larva. Once the wasp…
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July Grower Spotlight – Chattooga Belle
Where is Briana visiting this week? Chattooga Belle Farm is a 200-acre farm located in Long Creek. The farm has a variety of produce throughout the seasons, including apples and peaches, muscadines, scuppernongs, table grapes, and blueberries. They also have a variety of exotic fruits, such as persimmons, pawpaws, mayhaws, arctic kiwis, and figs. You…
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Question of the Week – Bee Fly
What kind of bee is this? Though this looks like a bee, it is actually a fly, a bee fly (family Bombyliidae). But you’ll have to let it land in order to see the difference. If you look closely, you’ll see it has only one pair of wings, whereas bees have two pairs. Their similar…
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Question of the Week – Choanephora
What kind of caterpillar is on this okra leaf? This caterpillar-looking thing is not a caterpillar at all. It is, in fact, a small okra pod that is infected with the fungus Choanephora cucurbitarum. This pathogen is also common in squash, cukes, and eggplant. This is a very common issue in okra, especially after rain. I was…
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Question of the Week – Wheel Bug
What is this mean-looking critter? The wheel bug (Arilus cristatus) is one of the most recognizable assassin bugs. It may be a mean-looking critter with a scary family name, but the wheel bug is beneficial. This unique insect is named after its gear-like “wheel” along its back. As one of the largest assassin bugs, it…
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July Grower Spotlight – Coosaw Farms
Where is Anna Sara visiting this week? Anna Sara is visiting a farm that was founded in 1983 during an agricultural depression by a man with a big vision. Mr. Bradley O’Neal and his wife, Louise, wanted to build a long-lasting legacy that would outlive the family and benefit the public by providing flavorful, nutritious,…
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Question of the Week – Brown Rot
What’s going on with this peach? This peach is completely covered with brown rot (Monilinia fructicola). Brown rot is one of the most significant diseases of peaches, plums, and nectarines. As the fruit is consumed by the fungi, it shrivels up into what’s known as a “mummy”. Mummified fruit falls to the ground and remains…
The South Carolina Grower 