Author: Justin Ballew

Question of the Week – Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

Jun 5, 2024 | In the Garden

What is munching on this dill? This caterpillar is the larval form of the Eastern black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes asterius). This is a beautiful species of butterfly that is common in the...

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...