Warm weather last week really pushed some things along. Spider mites are showing up in strawberries all over the state. Strawberry growers will likely begin spring fertigation this week. Be aware of the potential for disease development as moisture returns this week. See details below.
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Coastal Region
Zack Snipes
- It feels like spring in the Lowcountry, but I am not convinced as I take a glance at the calendar.
- We are harvesting greens right now, and they might be the sweetest greens I’ve ever tasted due to the cold they endured.
- We are also setting lots of greens and onions, and seeding carrots, beets, turnips, etc.
- Strawberries perked up last week with the warm weather, but so did the two-spotted spider mites. I found them in every field I was in last week. Scouting and keeping mites under our threshold for this time of year is very important for season-long management. The threshold is 5 mites per leaflet or 15 per leaf (a leaf is a collection of 3 leaflets). Do not use pyrethroids to manage spider mites. Bifenthrin and other pyrethroids will make the problem worse than it was before you sprayed.
- I have seen some aphids on strawberries. In my career, I have never seen aphids be an economic issue on strawberries. If we don’t spray for them, then the problem will generally go away on its own due to beneficial insects. Go Nature!
- Some growers are putting out small amounts of liquid fertilizer on strawberries. Most are going with 0.2-0.3 lbs of Nitrogen per acre per day, which is about 2-3 gallons of liquid per week. Don’t forget about our drip fertigation calculator, where you can dial in your fertility. It is also the time of year we should get out some boron to help with flowering in the next couple of weeks.
Calculations for applying boron to help with blooms. Be careful, as too much boron is an effective herbicide.
Zack Snipes, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Spider mites like to hide under the leaf curls of leaflets.
Zack Snipes, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Midlands Region
Rob Last
- Following the warm weather last week, crops are looking well and advancing quickly. Rain is forecast for most of this week, which may increase disease pressure.
- Strawberries are developing well. Maintain fungicide programs as we approach the time to push the first fertigations in the Midlands. Spider mites are active and present in strawberry crops. A specific miticide will be beneficial.
Tiny spider mites on the underside of a strawberry leaf.
Rob Last, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Sarah Scott
- The weather is giving us whiplash, with the weekend temperatures hitting around 80 degrees. Over the last week, temperatures have been mild and above normal. Perennial crops are starting to move with the warm days. We are still pruning peach trees and wrapping up planting. Orchard floor management is also happening with 2,4-D applications.
- Strawberry plants are taking off with the sunshine and warm temps as well. Growers who have row covers on their crops will want to keep an eye out for spider mites. We’ve started to see some popping up, which is expected with the weather.
- We still have some greens and brassicas in the ground. Many plants succumbed to the hard freeze from a few weeks ago, but some have pushed through and are starting to put back out new, healthy growth.
Pee Dee Region
- The Pee Dee had some warm weather last week which should give crops some good growth. Onions and leafy greens are progressing well. We are supposed to have some heavy rain later this week, so be on the lookout for black rot in leafy greens.
- Strawberries seem to be really struggling in some areas after the freezing temps. I’m seeing inconsistent size among plants and lots of necrotic leaves. Most of the cold damage I’ve seen has been on the leaves and flowers and not in the crown. With an increase in necrotic tissue from cold damage, we want to be vigilant of botrytis and get fungicide sprays out now before we really get into bloom.
- Spider mite populations have increased after the warm weather and I am seeing a high number of eggs and adults, so make sure we are paying attention to what we are spraying and what life stage it targets.
Strawberry plant with dead flowers that most likely have botrytis starting to develop on them.
Brittney King, ©2025, Clemson Extension
