We have lots of meetings coming up over the next few months, so be sure to keep a close eye on the Upcoming Events tab so you don’t miss anything. Coming up this week, we have the Upstate Apple Meeting in Walhalla and the Midlands Strawberry Meeting in Saluda.
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.
Statewide
Tom Bilbo
- We are finding plenty of reproducing diamondback moth larvae, yellowmargined leaf beetle (YMLB), and vegetable weevil (the latter two primarily infest Chinese cabbages and mustard greens in low-input operations). Notably, older greens that were left in the field were loaded with these pests and were a potential source of infestation for newer crops. Cleaning up fields after harvest is an especially important cultural control tactic for YMLB since low-input and organic farmers have limited effective tools for this pest. There is limited research conducted on YLMB in SC, but here are some helpful resources from research conducted elsewhere in the southern US:
- https://eorganic.org/node/14419
- https://entomologytoday.org/2017/05/30/yellowmargined-leaf-beetle-new-guide-offers-pest-management-tips-for-organic-growers/
Yellowmargined leaf beetle mating on Chinese cabbage.
Tom Bilbo, ©2024 Clemson Extension
Yellowmargined leaf beetle/ vegetable weevil feeding damage on purple mustard.
Tom Bilbo, ©2024 Clemson Extension
Coastal Region
Zack Snipes
- I know our readership will increase this week because there is no way farmers will get out into the fields anytime soon. Our weather station in Beaufort County logged 3.68 inches last week, and the station in Charleston logged 4.39 inches. I visited some farms on Thursday before the rains on Saturday, and the fields were waterlogged then.
- I hope that strawberry growers got out their preventative fungicides, as we are in full bloom right now. If growers have seen any Botrytis or Anthracnose, then a more curative fungicide like Switch, Merivon, Fonetelis, or a few others should be used.
- The MYIPM app is an incredible resource for small fruit growers and has pesticide recommendations.
- I have seen feeding and breeding activity with vegetable weevil and yellowmargined leaf beetles. What we are seeing right now is the first generation this year, so let’s stay on top of management by removing all culled and finished crops. Monitoring and applying labeled insecticides (both organic and conventional) will knock populations back before they become uncontrollable. Bt will not work on vegetable weevils or yellowmargined leaf beetles.
- I have also seen an uptick in diamondback moth larvae this week.
Orange Cane Blotch continues to be a devastating disease for Coastal blackberry growers.
Zack Snipes, ©2024 Clemson Extension
Leaving crop debris in finished fields is a breeding ground for vegetable weevils and yellowmargined leaf beetles. This field will be a hot spot for pests in later seasons.
Zack Snipes, ©2024 Clemson Extension
Midlands Region
Phillip Carnley
- Strawberries are doing very well in the midlands, with a few gallons starting to be harvested on Camarosa. The main area of interest right now is making sure that anthracnose fruit rot is kept in check. It has started to appear thanks to our cool very wet conditions as of late. Make sure to use a protectant like Captan or Thiram prior to any heavy rain event followed by another mode of action like one of the strobilurins being mindful to rotate. It can be almost impossible to slow down the infestation if the weather is uncooperative. There is also a little concern for botrytis at the moment so keep an eye out for that and keep plants clean. Spider mites were also on the move but have been stopped nicely by the rain.
- Blackberries are moving nicely after being pruned. On a few varieties I am finding leaf rust, which can cause early defoliation of vines, to remedy the issue an application of a strobilurin or DMI will give you control. Removal of diseased canes after fruiting is a great cultural control for this disease which shows up first in the late spring and persists until late autumn the following year.
- A few growers are prepping for early tomatoes at the moment. Prior to receiving your plants make sure you have fumigated your beds.
Cane and Leaf rust in blackberry.
Phillip Carnley, ©2024 Clemson Extension
Cane and Leaf rust in blackberry.
Phillip Carnley, ©2024 Clemson Extension
Rob Last
- Strawberries are pushing out blooms; if you missed a fungicide application before the rainfall and have the presence of botrytis or anthracnose, then upgrading fungicide applications to Switch or Miravis Prime will be beneficial.
- Fungicides applied to protect blooms helping to protect foliage.
- Keep an eye out for spider mites, the warmer weather can be advantageous to mite population development.
- Leafy greens, onions, and brassicas all look great right now.
- Keep monitoring for diamondback moths; larval numbers are beginning to increase.
- Don’t forget the Midlands Strawberry Grower meeting this Thursday in Saluda—more details on the upcoming events page.
Two-spotted spider mite on the underside of a leaf.
Rob Last, ©2024 Clemson Extension
