Category: Question of the Week
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Question of the Week – Pawpaw
What tree makes this unusual-looking flower? This is the flower of the Hoosier banana. Not familiar with the Hoosier banana? Well, you may be more familiar with the pawpaw. The pawpaw is one of my favorite trees for several reasons. First, it is the largest native fruit to North America and a must have for any gardener…
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Question of the Week – Chinese Mantid Ootheca
What is this thing that looks like a piece of foam stuck to a blueberry cane? This is the ootheca, or egg mass, of the Chinese mantid (Tenodera aridifolia). Chinese mantids are nonnative predatory insects that much larger than the native Carolina mantid. Mantids are generalist predators that will prey on just about any insect…
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Question of the Week – Spinach
What are these seedlings that are just beginning to emerge from the ground? These are spinach seedlings. This spinach was direct seeded into growing beds. We see in the photo the cotyledons popping up through the holes in the plastic mulch in, what appears, to be a healthy stand with good germination. Spinach germinates in…
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March Grower Spotlight – Bush-N-Vine
Where has Andy been this week? In this month’s grower spotlight, Andy is visiting Bush-N-Vine Farm in York, SC. This is an innovative diversified farm, owned and operated by Bob Hall, that began growing truck crops and grew into a thriving business. They have multiple retail outlets and a growing CSA program. Bush-N-Vine grows peaches, strawberries,…
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Question of the Week – White Mold
What’s wrong with these kale leaves? These leaves are infected with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the causal fungus of white mold. White mold is showing up in brassica fields now in South Carolina. Initial development is initiated when cold weather triggers sclerotia (hard, black survival structures found in the soil) to produce tiny mushrooms that release spores.…
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Question of the Week – Grass Spiders
What created this webbing that Anna Sara found in her lawn? Early one morning the dew was lying thick on the grass and the fog was hanging heavy in the air. It reminded me of the Burl Ives foggy, foggy dew song. As the sun rose and started burning away the dense fog, I noticed some…
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QotW Grower Spotlight – Rosebank Farms
Where is Zack this week? In this month’s Grower Spotlight, Zack is visiting a Lowcounty gem of a farm. Rosebank Farms, operated by Sidi Limehouse, is located on the far end of John’s Island and has been in business since 1975. The farm grows a variety of fruits and vegetables that supply the bustling restaurant scene…
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Question of the Week – Cattail Seed
Where did this mass of fluff come from? This ball of “fluff” got my attention one day while scouting collards. I thought a bush hog had dismantled some insulation. To my surprise, when I approached the pile of fluff, I realized that it was not insulation but rather a large mass of cattail seeds. This…
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Question of the Week – Thrips and Mites
What is causing the discoloration on these strawberry plants that were found for sale at a popular chain store? The foliage of these plants shows symptoms of infestation of both spider mites and western flower thrips. Whether you are buying plants for large-scale commercial use or just for home, always check for pests—insects, mites, and…
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Question of the Week – Cold Damage
What is wrong with the leaves of this Lacinato kale? This kale is showing symptoms of cold damage on the older leaves. Lacinato kale seems to be a little more sensitive to the cold than curly varieties like Winterbor or Darkibor. Luckily, the new growth is fine, meaning the plant will grow out of this…
The South Carolina Grower 