Tag: weeds
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Weekly Field Update – 8/11/25
Rain and cooler temperatures continued for most of the week. As a result, disease pressure is high right now, so be sure to stay on top of management programs. The invasive two-spot cotton leafhopper was found in multiple crops near the coast last week. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab…
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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 – Pigweed
This week, the question was: What is this weed coming up in a field that was disked recently? This is a pigweed seedling, specifically Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri). Pigweeds are some of the most aggressive weeds that farmers battle. They are able to germinate and grow quickly in poor field conditions, outcompeting crops for water,…
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Question of the Week – Kudzu
This week, the question was: What invasive plant develops this attractive pink flower? These are kudzu flowers. You can see the characteristic trifoliate kudzu leaves in the background. Kudzu is one of our most common invasive plants in the Southeast. Interestingly, it was introduced intentionally in the early 1900s as a cheap livestock forage and…
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Question of the Week – Curly Dock
This week, the question was: What is this weed growing up in the row middles of this strawberry field? This is curly dock (Rumex crispus). Curly dock is a perennial weed that thrives in wet conditions but is also quite tolerant of drought. It is commonly found in the row middles in strawberry fields, especially…
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Question of the Week – Cudweed
This week, the question was: What is this cool season weed? This is a species of cudweed (Gnaphalium sp.). Cudweed grows in a rosette form through most of the winter until the weather warms up, allowing it to produce inflorescence. Inflorescence may appear in the fall as well. The undersides of the leaves are light-colored,…
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Weekly Field Update – 9/20/21
Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “Fall cucurbit crops, including cantaloupes, and watermelons are ripening and approaching harvest. Disease pressure from powdery mildew and gummy stem blight have really increased significantly over the last week. Maintaining a tight spray program will be key to managing disease. As we look forward to strawberry planting land is being prepared. If…
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Weekly Field Update – 9/13/21
Coastal Region Zack Snipes reports, “We had a heavy downpour of rain last week surpassing 2.5 inches in some spots. I am seeing downy mildew in cucumbers and lots of gummy stem blight in winter squash and pumpkins. The worm pressure has lessened in the past few weeks. I am seeing lots and lots of…
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Weekly Field Update – 6/7/21
The Coastal Research and Education Center Field Day is coming up on June 17 beginning at 8:30. You must register to attend this year. Registration may be found here. Statewide Dr. Matt Cutulle reports, “The coastal rain events of the past week resulted in a lot of weeds popping up. For fields not planted yet…
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Weekly Field Update – 1/19/21
Remember to check out the “Upcoming Events” tab for upcoming meetings. The next one is this Wednesday (1/21/21) at 6pm. Dr. Brian Ward will be discussing fertility for organic crops. Statewide Dr. Matt Cutulle reports, “Burndown herbicide efficacy can be reduced in colder weather, especially systemic products such as glyphosate (Reduced translocation in the cold…
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