Spring officially begins this week, though spring weather has been here for a little while now. Strawberries have really jumped in the last week, and a few folks have had a chance to taste some. Peaches are in bloom, and spring crops are starting to go into the ground. See details below.
Clemson Extension is working to produce resources for cut flower growers. To do so, we need information from anyone currently growing or interested in growing cut flowers about the production and post-harvest issues they face. Whether you grow a few row feet or a few acres of cut flowers, please consider completing this 15-minute needs assessment to help us steer our efforts.
Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss any of our winter/spring meetings. 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, Extension Entomologist
- As cucurbits begin to be transplanted throughout the state, it is time to think ahead and be ready for our most common pests.
- Cucumber beetles are an important and recurring pest for some squash, cucumber, pumpkin, and watermelon growers. Note that in the spring, cucumber beetles start becoming active and enter fields from overwintering sites around late April and through May in the Lowcountry, so a little bit later for those in the Midlands and Upstate. These trends will shift based on spring temperatures.
- I’ll publish a more detailed post on SC Grower in a few weeks with specific recommendations on scouting, management, and deterrence. But for now, note this expected trend and start thinking ahead. Seedlings are the most vulnerable stage and need to be protected, especially if your field has a history of cucumber beetle problems.
Cucumber beetle population trends throughout the year.
From Elsey (1988) Env. Entomal. 17 (3): 496-502
Coastal Region
Zack Snipes
- We had some nice weather last week and a bit of rain last night. I really expect things to jump this week.
- Growers are extremely busy in the fields, laying plastic, planting, and harvesting any leftover winter crops.
- Spring greens look good with very little black rot or insect damage.
- I found some scales on blueberry and whiteflies on blackberry. We need to manage these right now to get control throughout the rest of the year. The MYIPM app is an excellent resource for identification and management options.
Whitefly infestation on blackberry.
Zack Snipes. ©2025, Clemson Extension
Beautiful grafted tomato plants will go into the ground where there are extremely high levels of the bacterial wilt pathogen (Ralstonia Pseudomonas) Solanacearum).
Zack Snipes, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Midlands Region
Rob Last
- Another warm spring week in the Midlands leads to rapid crop growth and development.
- Strawberries are flowering well with a good fruit set.
- Please make sure to keep fungicide applications on a program, and remember to rotate active ingredients.
- Keep monitoring for pest and disease activity; mites are active and present.
- Growers are seeing some differences in cultivar development. Notably, Fronteras has a more erect growth stage and appears to be a more vigorous plant in the spring. Whereas Camino Real is more prostate at this stage with a lower flatter appearance. The plants are at very similar development stages, but the cultivar growth habit seems like Fronteras is further advanced.
- Blueberries are beginning to flower with the early cultivars, bud swell, and flower cover sprays, which assist in managing anthracnose and mummy berries.
- Leafy greens are growing well, with some crops showing aphids. Please keep monitoring for diamondback moths.
- Bed formation and plastic laying are going well here. With some rainfall over the weekend, soil conditions will be perfect for finishing land preparations. We are looking for a firm bed with defined shoulders and a rough rule of thumb: a 150lb person should sink into the bed approximately 1 inch.
Strawberries are developing well in the Midlands.
Rob Last, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Sarah Scott
- Warmer temperatures this past week have pushed crops along.
- Peaches are looking good. Growers are putting out copper sprays and continuing to prune later varieties.
- The temperatures from the latest chilly night caused frost in spotty locations across the Ridge. We are finding a few blooms here and there with cold damage, but nothing out of the ordinary or to be alarmed about. Light cold events can help us do some natural thinning.
- Strawberries are developing more blooms, and some fruit is being spotted in the fields.
Pin blooms are visible across the Ridge.
Sarah Scott, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Grower applying a bloom spray for seasonal brown rot control.
Sarah Scott, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Pee Dee Region
Christiana Huss
- We have had warm, wet weather in the Pee Dee.
- Strawberries that were covered during the warm days are showing more signs of disease compared to those left uncovered. The plants that were covered are also larger, brighter, and have more flowers and berries than those that were uncovered.
- Strawberry picking has begun! I tasted my first Medallion strawberry this week. It was sweet and delicious! This is a new variety for many of our growers.
- Aphids have been common on all plants. Fortunately, I’m seeing a high number of them killed by parasitoid wasps. Lady bugs are also quite active.
Leaf spot found on strawberry. This was sent off to the lab for identification.
Christiana Huss, ©2025, Clemson Extension
