Category: Question of the Week
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Question of the Week – Stink Bug Damage
Why is this developing peach bleeding this gummy substance? The clear, gummy substance on this developing peach is called gummosis. Gummosis occurs when the fruit has been damaged mechanically or by disease, cold, or insects. The most likely culprit here is stink bugs. Damage may take more than a week to appear, so it is…
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Question of the Week – Fire Blight
What’s causing this apple shoot tip to wilt and droop? This picture shows very early symptoms of fire blight disease on a young apple shoot. Fire blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is a disease that affects apple trees and can move quickly through young, tender growth. Early on—like in the shoot shown here—the…
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Question of the Week – Root Collar Excavation
Why are the roots of this peach tree exposed? One of the biggest disease issues peach growers in South Carolina face is Armillaria Root Rot (ARR). The main reason this disease is so challenging is that we currently do not have a foolproof option for controlling its spread. The best and most effective way, researchers…
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April Grower Spotlight – Baxley Family Farms
Where is Andy visiting this week? Andy is visiting Baxley Family Farms in Georgetown, SC. Baxley Family Farms is a multi-generation operation focused on raising cattle, row crops, and local produce with a deep commitment to conservation and responsible land stewardship. Their on-farm market, Black Mingo Produce, offers fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, and dairy…
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Question of the Week – Cold Injury
What happened to these strawberry leaflets? Although the tops of these strawberry leaves look perfectly fine, their undersides are discolored and bronze. The culprit? Cold damage. Only showing up on the underside of the leaf because, as the covers were pulled over the plants, the leaves were folded over. Leaves that came in direct contact…
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Question of the Week – Leopard Moth
What type of moth is this? This is a leopard moth (F: Erebidae). The leopard moth is one of the most widely distributed moth species. The adults are active for only a few days, with the sole aim of reproducing. Pink-orange eggs are laid on the bark of deciduous shrubs and trees, including pears and…
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Question of the Week – Aphid Mummies
What is on the underside of this strawberry leaf? These round, tan objects are aphid mummies, the remains of aphids that have been parasitized and killed by tiny wasps. Due in part to parasitoid wasps, insecticide treatments are rarely needed for managing aphids in strawberries. These wasps prey upon aphids by inserting an egg into…
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Question of the Week – Lady Beetle Larva
What is this wild-looking critter? This is a lady beetle larva. While it might look strange and undesirable, it’s actually a good thing to find in the field. These larvae, like the adults, have quite an appetite and can help control certain pest populations, especially aphids. Encouraging beneficial insects by avoiding broad-spectrum insecticide applications is…
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March Grower Spotlight – Strawberry Hill
Where is Andy visiting this week? Andy is visiting Strawberry Hill USA, located in Chesnee, SC. Strawberry Hill is owned and operated by James and Kathi Cooley and their 4 daughters. This large produce farm grows 100 acres of strawberries, approximately 800 acres of peaches, and some commercial blackberries. They also grow a variety of vegetables,…
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Question of the Week – Cold
What caused the darkened (black-looking) patches on these strawberry leaves? This darkening occurred where the row covers were contacting the leaves during a cold event. While plants throughout the field sustained minor foliar burns from the cold, the row covers successfully protected the crowns. The new growth looks fine, and the plants will quickly grow…
The South Carolina Grower 