Strawberries, as well as other spring crops, are growing like gangbusters. Peaches are being thinned, and some early blueberries are sizing up. As the weather warms this week, keep a close eye out for spider mites. See details below.
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Statewide
Tony Keinath, Extension Plant Pathologist
- Syngenta has approved a 2(ee) label addition to Miravis Prime for suppression of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causing white mold on head, stem, and leafy brassicas in AL, FL, GA, NC, SC, and VA. The 2ee recommendation is on the Syngenta website under Special Labels. Growers must download a copy of this one-page document and save it with their pesticide application records.
- NOTE: Turnips for roots may NOT be treated with Miravis Prime, but turnips harvested only for greens may be treated. In general, white mold is most common on brassica crops in Brassica oleracea, including collard, kale, broccoli, and cabbage.
- Miravis Prime includes a FRAC 7 component, which is the same FRAC Code for Endura and Fontelis. Apply ONLY ONE FRAC 7 fungicide per crop. Based on trials on lettuce, Miravis Prime may be more effective than Fontelis, while Endura performed similarly to the other two fungicides. Note that all three fungicides are limited to two applications per crop.
- With temperatures occasionally reaching 80 °F., we are probably past the main white mold infection period for this spring. Keep this information in mind for next winter after the first hard freeze, which will trigger spore release by the Sclerotinia fungus.
Coastal Region
Zack Snipes
- Our plants are absolutely loaded with berries. We need to be tissue sampling, both for orchard leaf and petiole analysis, to make sure our fertility is where it should be. I saw some plants that were not as vibrant as I would have liked, probably due to such a high fruit load. We need to give them enough fertility so that they can remain healthy but also produce blooms for our next flush. It is extremely important to get out fungicides as the new blooms are coming on. We have diseased fruit in the fields right now, and it could infect our blossoms and fruit a few weeks from now. Shut down the U-pic and get out fungicides one day this week.
- It seems that every other spring crop is coming to market with very few problems this week. Onions, carrots, greens, herbs, and lettuce all look really clean coming to market.
Our plants are throwing out berries, and keeping up with picking has been tough this week.
Zack Snipes, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Sunburn/sunscald on berries is common after a rain followed by sunny weather.
Zack Snipes, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Midlands Region
Phillip Carnley
- Strawberries are looking great and bearing heavily in the Midlands. There has been a noticeable increase in gray mold and anthracnose fruit rot following the heavy rain last week.
- The first plantings of cowpeas are a few weeks old now and are looking quite good. Last week, the Cowpea Variety Demo plot was planted and has a total of 24 different varieties. If you are interested in the demo and would like to learn more, please reach out to me anytime.
- Leafy greens are doing well, and nothing out of the ordinary is happening.
- Onions are marching along nicely and should be ready for harvest soon.
Sarah Scott
- It’s been busy across the Ridge. Peaches are still being thinned. With no late freeze events this year, the crop needs to be thinned to ensure good size on peaches produced.
- Blueberries are looking good with no real issues.
- Strawberries are coming off in heavy volumes. Some leaf spot issues are showing up in the field. Samples were sent off to confirm the pathogens responsible. Still no major issues with spider mites, but we will monitor closely as the temperatures warm up this week.
- Summer vegetable crops are still going in, including tomatoes and peppers.
Blueberries should have a heavy crop this year.
Sarah Scott, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Peaches thinned to ensure good crop size.
Sarah Scott, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Tomatoes going in the ground.
Sarah Scott, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Pee Dee Region
Brittney King
- The Pee Dee experienced some cooler night temps last week, with one night getting in the high 30s.
- Strawberries are exploding and overall, look good. I have started to notice some fruit rot in the fields and have sent off samples to the lab for diagnosis. Spider mites remain the biggest issue in strawberries, with a mix of adults and eggs present. Remember to be aware of the PHI if you want to pick berries in the next couple of days after spraying.
- Watermelons have been planted and are looking good so far! Make sure that you have protectant fungicides, like Bravo and mancozeb, on hand, as these will be essential rotational partners for your fungicide program.
- Other veggies, like tomatoes and cucurbits, have gone into the ground and are also looking great. I saw small patches of aphids on tomatoes during the hot, dry weather we had a week or so ago, but that seems to have resolved itself with the cooler weather.
- Blackberries are starting to flower, and muscadines are starting to leaf out.
- Blueberries are looking great so far and are starting to show some color in some varieties.
Recently picked Fronteras variety already loading up with more fruit.
Brittney King, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Upstate Region
Andy Rollins
- Strawberry production is beginning in the Upstate, with most farms selling some berries at this point. Smaller, later-planted plants tend to produce larger fruit sooner than plants loaded down with 30+ green fruit. Larger 5-crown plants will end up producing more than 1-2 crown plants by the end of the season. This reminds me of the story of the tortoise and the hare.
- Fruit quality is excellent. Overcast, rainy weather, regardless of variety, causes a temporary loss of flavor but quickly returns with some sunshine. Growers need to continue making sure they are irrigating for the size of the plant and conditions we are having. Cooler weather will slow water use compared with weeks when we were hitting 84 for multiple days.
- Keep diligent with protective sprays. We had scattered hailstorms on Saturday, and I will be assessing damage this week on peach and strawberry farms. Dips in temperatures also caused frost in some areas but is thought to have caused only minimal damage at this time.
- Peach growers need to be watching for powdery mildew on fruit, as we had significant amounts of it show up last year at this shuck-off stage.
Strawberry harvest has begun in the Upstate.
Andy Rollins, ©2025, Clemson Extension
