Tag: Question of the Week
-
Question of the Week – Giant Leopard Moth
What is this critter that was found resting on a grill cover near the coast? This Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) was found on my grill cover as I went to cook some dinner one-night last week. This is by far my favorite moth due to its striking appearance. These moths are common across South Carolina and…
-
Question of the Week – Shothole borer
What caused the damage found on a dead branch of this peach tree? This damage was caused by a shothole borer. Shothole borers typically find a way into the wood through damage initially caused by sunburn or bark injury. Adult females bore into the bark and lay their eggs in the cambium layer of the…
-
Question of the Week – War of 1812 Artifact
What is this that was found while subsoiling a field on John’s Island in Charleston recently? Sidi Limehouse was bottom plowing a field at the end of Johns Island a few weeks ago when he hit something, made another pass, and hit it again. They had been farming the field for years; another local farmer…
-
Question of the Week – Thrips
What is the tiny critter on the petal of this strawberry bloom? In this picture is a tobacco thrips (reduced wing form) crawling out a strawberry flower at Clemson’s Coastal REC in Charleston. There are several species of thrips that we find in strawberry flowers in SC, but for most farms and fields the presence…
-
Question of the Week – Henbit
What is this cool-season weed that is turning fallow fields purple right now? This is henbit (Lamium amplexicaule). This annual cool-season weed germinates in the fall and grows throughout the winter. It begins blooming in the late-winter, with some blooms visible earlier during warm spells. This time of year, fallow fields often have enough henbit…
-
Question of the Week – Carolina Jessamine
What is this wildflower that is starting to appear on field edges and wood lines? This is Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens). This native, evergreen vine is just starting to bloom. In a few more weeks, as it reaches full bloom, it can be seen growing on trees and fences on the side of seemingly every…
-
Question of the Week – Fava Beans
What is this crop that is growing on John’s Island in Charleston? Fava beans or broad beans are grown in small acreages in South Carolina. They are grown in the cooler times of the year and have a similar growing cycle to a sweet or English pea. They are a legume, so they add nitrogen…
-
Question of the Week – Blueberry Pruning
This week, the question was: Of these two shoots that were pruned from a blueberry plant, which would have produced larger, higher quality berries? Blueberries, like many perennial crops, need pruning for maximum yield and fruit quality. I was in the field recently and saw a bush full of buds (material on the left). However,…
-
Question of the Week – Cold Damage
This week, the question was: What is wrong with the leaves of this citrus tree? These leaves are showing symptoms of cold injury. This tree is part of a study at the Sandhill REC in Columbia looking at 9 varieties of citrus that are believed to have improved cold tolerance. So far this winter, we…
-
Question of the Week – Jelly Fungus
This week, the question was: What is the dark-colored thing growing on this branch? This is a jelly fungus. Jelly fungi are usually found growing on dead or dying branches. Jelly fungi often swell when there is plenty of moisture in the air (pictured) and shrink when the air is dry. Lichen (the light greenish-grey,…
The South Carolina Grower 