Tag: Disease
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South Carolina Field Update (March 30, 2025): Dry Weather Persists as More Growers Begin Picking Strawberries
After a cooler weekend, warm weather will return this week. It’s been very dry, and we’re looking forward to a little rain later this week. More of the state is beginning to pick strawberries, though we aren’t in peak production yet. Spring vegetables are being planted now and are looking good so far. Key Takeaways…
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South Carolina Field Update (March 23, 2025): Cold Damage Being Assessed as Strawberry Harvest Begins
Parts of the Upstate saw some cold damage to fruit crops last week, while the rest of the state largely escaped. Strawberries are ripening well, and harvest is beginning in places. Spring vegetable planting will begin on a larger scale soon. Key Takeaways for Growers This Week The latest episode of the SC Grower Exchange…
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South Carolina Field Update (March 16, 2025): Developing Strawberries At Risk of Frost Injury
After another week of warm weather, multiple nights are forecast to dip below freezing. This comes as strawberries and blueberries across the state are in full bloom, with strawberry harvest rapidly approaching. Other cool-season crops are progressing well. See details below. Key Takeaways for Growers This Week Help Clemson Collect Local Pricing Data Clemson University…
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Weekly Field Update – 3/9/26
Warm weather and rain will have crops growing quickly this week. This is also a recipe for disease development. As strawberries, blueberries, and other small fruits progress, stay on top of disease management and scout closely. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss any of our…
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Weekly Field Update – 3/2/26
After some rain and warm weather, crops will begin moving quickly this week. Now is a good time for strawberry tissue sampling and disease resistance screening. With more rain in the forecast, make sure you’re staying on top of disease control programs. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so…
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Weekly Field Update – 2/23/26
After a taste of spring weather, the week is off to a cold start. Many growers have begun spring fertilization in strawberries and will begin protecting flowers and fruit from the cold. We are seeing an increase in insect and disease pressure around the state. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events…
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Strawberries Showing Signs of Gray Mold After the Freezing Temperatures
Lindsey Thiessen and Guido Schnabel South Carolina is warming up following several bouts of freezing temperatures. Many used frost-protection covers to keep fruit crowns from freezing. To add some additional stress following the freezing temperatures, growers are reporting significant gray mold presence after frost protection covers have been removed. Gray mold is caused by a…
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Weekly Field Update – 2/16/26
After some welcomed rain over the weekend, temperatures are warming up for the week. Strawberry growers are beginning to inject fertilizer in preparation for bloom. Spider mites are showing up in many places and are likely to increase in the coming warm weather. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically…
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Hold Off on Second White Mold Sprays in South Carolina
From Tony Keinath, Clemson Extension Plant Pathologist Last week, I advised South Carolina brassica growers to spray brassica crops to protect them from white mold, based on symptoms seen on kale and stock, a brassica winter annual, in Charleston. The initial symptoms were triggered by the cold temperatures of Dec. 16 and 17 that completed…
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Question of the Week – Scurf
What is going on with the skin of this sweetpotato? This sweetpotato has a superficial disease known as scurf (Monilochaetes infuscans). Scurf develops on the skin of the sweetpotato and is not visible on the flesh after peeling the skin. Though infected sweetpotatoes are still perfectly edible, this cosmetic defect renders them unmarketable. Scurf development…
The South Carolina Grower 