Author: Justin Ballew

Question of the Week – Rice Trunk

May 29, 2024 | In the Garden

What is this piece of equipment used for? This piece of equipment is called a trunk and was historically used to manipulate the water levels in rice fields along the coast of South Carolina. The...

Question of the Week – Stink Bugs

May 22, 2024 | In the Garden

What has caused this gelatinous substance to ooze from a developing peach? This gelatinous substance is often called “gummosis” and can be caused by a number of things, such as disease, mechanical...

Question of the Week – Periodical Cicada

May 8, 2024 | In the Garden

What is this red-eyed creature found crawling up a pine tree? This is a periodical cicada nymph that has just crawled out of the soil after 13 years of feeding and developing underground and is now...

Question of the Week – Brown Lacewing

May 1, 2024 | In the Garden

What is this critter that was found resting on the wall inside of a garage? This is another beneficial insect: a brown lacewing. Brown lacewings are smaller than the more common green lacewings,...

Question of the Week – Henbit

Mar 6, 2024 | In the Garden

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...

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – February 19, 2024

Feb 19, 2024 | In the Garden

Also, check out the latest episode of the SC Grower Exchange Podcast below. The next episode will be recorded today (2/19). Midlands Region Phillip Carnley Strawberries are looking good around the...

What Is It? Wednesday – Cold Damage on Citrus

Feb 7, 2024 | In the Garden

These citrus 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...

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report- January 29, 2024

Jan 29, 2024 | In the Garden

Coastal Region Zack Snipes We had a week of warm weather after a cold snap. I have seen an uptick in black rot in brassicas. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything anyone can do, conventionally or...

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report- January 22, 2024

Jan 23, 2024 | In the Garden

Happy 2024! We’re back and ready for another great year of growing fruit and veggies! We hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year. Don’t forget to look at our resources tab for...

What Is It? Wednesday- Swinecress

Dec 13, 2023 | In the Garden

This cool-season weed called swinecress (Coronopus didymus) was found coming up in a mustard field. As a seedling, swinecress grows in a rosette, as seen here. As it matures and begins to flower, it...

What Is It? Wednesday – Wireworm Damage

Dec 6, 2023 | In the Garden

While picking out the ingredients for my Thanksgiving sweetpotato casserole, I found this sweetpotato full of holes. The holes are tell-tale signs of wireworm feeding. Wireworms are the...

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – 12/4/23

Dec 5, 2023 | In the Garden

Today’s update will be our final update of 2023. With things slowing down in the field, we will take some time to focus on other projects, and the Weekly Field Updates will resume in January. We...