We’re forecast to get lots of rain this week from Tropical Storm Debby. This comes as growers are finishing up summer crops and are making preparations for fall crops. See details below.
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Coastal Region
Anna Sara Hill
- Last week was hot and humid. Most of this summer’s produce has been harvested and growers are starting to plow under old plants and prep the ground for fall crops.
- Okra is still being harvested. Be on the lookout for aphids as they have an affinity for okra and will move in and colonize pods. If left unchecked, they can quickly build up huge populations.
- Blackberries and blueberries that were pruned back to the ground after the last harvest, which was the end of June, are starting to flush out nicely. Plant debris can be a source of disease inoculum and a haven for insect pests to evade treatment. Diseased plant debris that was trimmed off fruit crops at the end of the season should be raked to row middles and either removed, if possible, or mowed over with a flail mower two times, to chop up the debris into small pieces. The mower should be run in a different direction each time.
- I noticed some mealybug colonizing blackberry canes. Mealybugs have a wide host range and feed on multiple crops. They also colonize plant roots, making them very difficult to control. Applying treatments such as imidacloprid, through the drip system or as a soil drench will get the product to the root zone and will be a more effective method than a foliar application.
Blackberry canes infested with Mealybugs.
Anna Sara Hill, ©2024, Clemson Extension
Zack Snipes
- We had another hot and humid week in the Lowcountry and are anxiously waiting to see how much rainfall we are going to get this week. Some reports have us getting 20+ inches of rain.
- Most growers are cleaning up spring fields by pulling plastic, working on equipment, and getting ground ready for fall crops. Some growers have planted fall pepper and tomato.
- With the amount of rain we are scheduled to get, it is important to go ahead and get out our protectant fungicides ahead of the rain as we don’t know how long we will be unable to get into the fields. Copper and manzate are the backbone of our tomato and pepper spray programs.
For the last few years, we have seen this bright red flagging in TifBlue variety of blueberries across the Lowcountry. We are working with researchers on campus to figure out what exactly is going on. We have isolated a bacteria, Xylella fastidiosa, that could potentially be the causal agent.
Zack Snipes, ©2024, Clemson Extension
Midlands Region
Rob Last
- Summer crops are closing down, and hot peppers are looking very good.
- Some fall plantings are underway.
- Given the population of squash bugs observed this spring and summer, be mindful of potential issues in fall plantings.
- Timely destruction of older crops can help to provide some mitigation for preventing pest and disease carryover.
- As we await Tropical Storm Debby’s arrival, make sure plans are in place to mitigate potential flooding issues. Disease issues are likely to arise rapidly following the storm, given we are forecast large volumes of rainfall.
Hot peppers ripening in the Midlands.
Rob Last, ©2024, Clemson Extension
Sarah Scott
- Summer crops are holding on but starting to look a bit rough. The hot and humid weather is taking its toll.
- Still harvesting tomatoes, some peppers and even squash and some late watermelons, but new vegetable plantings are going in for fall harvest as well.
- I’ve seen a spike in squash bug populations again this week and would mostly contribute that to debris left in neighboring fields after harvest. Leaf-footed bugs also are still around. In most cases, a smaller population is not doing a ton of damage but in fields where populations are high, I am seeing some, especially on tomatoes. A pyrethroid is the best product for control so be mindful of pollinators when applying.
- We are still harvesting peaches and varieties are coming off a bit early. The biggest issues we are seeing in the crop right now are bacterial spot and brown rot. Some reports of other rot issues have come to my attention and we are sending off some samples to identify which disease we are dealing with there.
Pepper plants getting established after going in the ground late July.
Sarah Scott, ©2024, Clemson Extension
Scale damage appears as red spots on peaches and becomes more apparent as fruit starts to color.
Sarah Scott, ©2024, Clemson Extension
Bacterial spot on an August Prince peach.
Sarah Scott, ©2024, Clemson Extension
Pee Dee Region
Brittney King
- We had a little break with some cooler weather, but now we are back in the heat and humidity. Growers are having trouble keeping up with pesticide sprays because of the rain. Some are taking a break in this heat, while others are preparing for the fall season.
- Pumpkins are progressing well. I have seen some crinkled leaves that could be a virus, so I am waiting for confirmation from the lab. Crinkled leaves can be a symptom of a virus as well as herbicide damage, so if you are unsure, send the sample to the lab to confirm it is not a virus.
- Muscadines are starting to turn color. I have seen some nutrient deficiency in vineyards the past couple weeks. Magnesium deficiency can be pretty common in muscadines and has symptoms similar to potassium deficiency. The difference is that magnesium deficiency would eventually cause symptoms to show on new and older leaves since it is mobile and can move through the plant. Potassium deficiency is not common in muscadine production, so get a plant tissue test to show your nutrient levels! For a magnesium deficiency, applying Epsom Salt at 5-10lbs per acre is recommended. Do not apply more than 10lbs per acre at one time.
- Other crops like okra, banana peppers, and eggplant are still producing good yields.
- For strawberry growers, now is a good time to adjust your soil pH and any other nutrient issues, if needed. If you need to apply elemental sulfur to lower pH, be aware that it does take 2-3 months to cause an actual pH change in the soil.
- With Tropical Storm Debbie headed our way, make sure to stay safe and report any damage to your field or crops to the local extension agent in your county.
Pumpkin plant with weird, crinkled new growth. When in doubt, send a plant sample off to the lab!
Brittney King, ©2024, Clemson Extension
Muscadine vine showing magnesium deficiency. Interveinal chlorosis extends from the old growth into the new growth. Burnt margins can happen when the deficiency is severe, but these burnt margins were caused by sunscald.
Brittney King, ©2024, Clemson Extension
