Welcome back to the SC Grower! This is our first update of 2026, and we’re looking forward to a great year.
After some warm weather, temperatures will be cooler for the next week. Strawberries are developing well with various insect and disease issues around. Continue to scout regularly even though we’re in the middle of winter. See details below.
Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss any of our winter/spring meetings. Also, check out the latest episode of the SC Grower Exchange Podcast.
Don’t forget to look at our Resources tab for links to crop handbooks, helpful websites, and related blogs.
Coastal Region
Zack Snipes
- It’s been cold lately, and the rest of this week looks to be the same.
- Strawberries are all over the place for us. Some look ok with decent size and full stands. Some fields are missing hundreds of plants due to root rots. Lastly, some fields have leaf spots that could be neopest. In my opinion, it has been hard to diagnose diseases this year.
- We have had neopest root rot, phytophthora root rot, and anthracnose root rot. All three root rots have different management strategies, so please send samples to the lab for a positive diagnosis so we can treat with the appropriate pesticide. Lately, I have seen plants going down due to root and crown rots, so get out into your fields and look for symptoms of disease. The first thing I look for is a bronzing or purpling of individual plants or groups of plants. This lets me know that something is going on. Next, I cut the crown open to look for discoloration.
- Clemson Extension is in the process of updating a cut flower manual that was written in 2000. The publication should be finished by late winter or early spring.
Cutting open strawberry crowns can give insight into what is causing plant decline. This plant was sent to our lab for positive identification.
Zack Snipes, ©2026, Clemson Extension
Midlands Region
Rob Last
- Over the last week and into the upcoming week, temperatures are expected to be very cold, with the potential for wintry precipitation.
- Overall, crops look very good with very few pest and disease issues. Brassica crops can be expected to show purpling to the older leaves in response to reduced phosphorus uptake. There is no need to apply phosphorus. The color will return when temperatures recover.
- Strawberries in the Midlands are developing well, albeit a little smaller than we would typically like. Many crops have been covered to prevent freeze injury to the crowns. Covers may need to remain in place throughout this week to minimize potential damage. Once covers do come off, scout closely for mite and disease activity. Making plans now to have fungicide and miticide on hand and ready to go would be a good policy.
- On that note, now is a good time to review 2025, making notes of systems and procedures that worked or didn’t work, enabling changes of plans to be made.
Strawberries are developing well in the Midlands.
Rob Last, ©2026, Clemson Extension
Sarah Scott
- We had a few weeks of fields sitting quietly, and the weather giving us whiplash between spring and winter. Now it seems cold weather is setting in for a while, and fields are bustling.
- Strawberries are growing and looking good. Some that have been tucked under covers have a good bit of size to them. There are some mites in patches, likely from a mix of covers and warmer temperatures, that we will keep an eye on.
- Pruning has started in the peach trees. Field prep has been done to prepare for planting new sites in the coming weeks. We were slow to gain chill hours for a while, but we are making up for them now. The first oil spray has started to go out, and things will soon be busy.
Pee Dee Region
Brittney King
- We’ve had chilly days in the Pee Dee with most nights getting down to the low 20s. There is great potential for a winter storm this weekend with chances of freezing rain and sleet.
- Strawberry growers covered plants to protect crowns and increase size. Growth has been good so far this year, with most plants having 3-5 crowns, but some that did not use row covers have plants with 2-3 crowns. Botrytis has started to develop on winter-killed flowers and even fruit in some fields. This is a great time to get a Botrytis fungicide resistance test done, so you are not wasting fungicides!
- Leafy greens are doing well and have been coming to harvest with good quality. Cabbage and collard plants have had great size on them at harvest this season. There has been some purple tinting from phosphorus immobility from cold soil conditions, but other than that, no big issues.
- This is a great time to work on equipment, stock up on chemicals, and make plans for the next planting season based on successes/failures from last year.
Botrytis spreading from one infected strawberry to a healthy one.
Brittney King, ©2026, Clemson Extension
