Category: In the Garden

What Is It? Wednesday – Blueberry Splits

Jul 5, 2023 | In the Garden

Blueberry splits are caused by excessive water from rainfall or irrigation when ripe or near-ripe fruit are on the plant. These berries of the rabbiteye cultivar ‘Climax’ split following nearly four...

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report- July 3, 2023

Jul 4, 2023 | In the Garden

Coastal Region Zack Snipes It’s been such a good tomato crop this year that Dukes Mayonnaise came to do a photo shoot on Johns Island. The crop is coming in at exceptional volumes, and market prices...

This Month in Your Garden- July 2023

Jul 3, 2023 | In the Garden

Coastal Region – Christopher Burtt Apply a second (or third) application (if necessary) of turf fertilizer. Follow soil result guidelines for appropriate ratios. Do not exceed 1 pound of...

Weed of the Month- Common Ragweed

Jun 29, 2023 | In the Garden, Weed

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is a North American native plant in the aster family. It has a rapid growth rate and can reach four to six feet tall. Common ragweed is a summer annual. It...

What Is It? Wednesday – Downy Mildew

Jun 28, 2023 | In the Garden

This is downy mildew showing up on the underside of this collard leaf. While downy mildew symptoms can be seen on the top sides of the leaves, the pathogen sporulates on the underside of the leaves....

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report- 6/26/23

Jun 27, 2023 | In the Garden

Coastal Region Zack Snipes The tomato crop is coming in at very heavy volumes. The week of rain has really started making diseases appear. I’ve seen a lot of bacterial wilt and Southern blight in...

A Lazy Gardener Introduces New Garden Friends

Jun 26, 2023 | In the Garden

When referencing my front yard’s native grass and wildflower planting, I irreverently and affectionately call it my weed patch. I’ll address the irreverent part in a later blog. This...

Giant Coneflower

Jun 22, 2023 | Flowers, In the Garden, Perennials

I love adding drama to a garden, especially choosing a plant that will stop you in your tracks with your mouth gaping open! One such plant is the giant coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima). It’s a...

What is It? Wednesday – Barklice

Jun 21, 2023 | In the Garden

These are barklice, AKA barkflies or booklice crawling on the bark of this crape myrtle tree. This species is probably Cerastipsocus venosus. Barklice are sometimes called “tree cattle” due to their...

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – June 19, 2023

Jun 20, 2023 | In the Garden

Coastal Region Zack Snipes Warmer temperatures and lots of afternoon thunderstorms have really pushed our crops. Up until last week, this was the cleanest year I have seen in terms of disease issues...

Southeast Bumble Bee Atlas Project

Jun 19, 2023 | In the Garden

Did you know North America has over 4,000 native bees? They are a hugely diverse bunch, ranging from the large carpenter bee to the tiny fairy bee, and all are critical to pollination. Recently, I...

Spiders in the Garden, Oh My!

Jun 15, 2023 | Entomology, In the Garden

I don’t have to tell you that some people are terrified of spiders. I chalk it up to fear of the unknown. Like snakes, the best way to lose your fear is by learning about them and how to identify...