SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – October 30, 2023

Coastal Region

Zack Snipes

We are very dry in the Lowcountry and could really use a good rain to water strawberries in. There is no mention of rain in the 10-day forecast, unfortunately.
We are finishing up planting our strawberries with pretty good weather to help them grow a bit. The lab has confirmed Phytophthora in our plugs. Growers need to consider using an oomycete specific product to help manage this disease. Plants need to be actively growing and “set” before these products are applied.

Phytophthora has been found on the roots and crowns of strawberry plugs.
Zack Snipes, ©2023 Clemson Extension

We are almost wrapped up with planting strawberries.
Zack Snipes, ©2023 Clemson Extension

Rob Last

Crops in the Midlands look very good, with good growth and a range of products coming to market.
Pest and disease pressure remains low, but continue to regularly scout as populations can quickly spike.
I am observing low numbers of diamondback moth caterpillars in some fields, which are not currently widespread.
The strawberry establishment looks promising at present with few issues.

Lettuce is growing well in the Midlands.
Rob Last, ©2023 Clemson Extension

Phillip Carnley

Leafy greens are being harvested with great quality and quantity. There has been less feeding damage from the diamondback caterpillar and an increase in looper and yellow-striped armyworm feeding. I have also seen a little bit of cutworm damage to fields that were transplanted late. Disease pressure has been very low, with the main culprits being black rot and a very minimal amount of downy mildew.
Strawberries are being quite slow to take root in parts of the Midlands. Most plants have been in the ground now for 1 to 2 weeks. During this time, soil moisture is critical and should be frequently monitored so transplants don’t dry out. If a preplant dip was not done, monitor plants closely for any signs of phytophthora or anthracnose, as well as any planting discrepancies like J-rooting or planting depth. Deer pressure and browsing are on the rise, so make sure to take adequate steps to keep them out.
Squash are still hanging on, but with increased disease pressure from powdery mildew and the occasional outbreak of downy mildew. These plantings are on their last leg and are recommended to be terminated.

Brassica crops are looking great.
Phillip Carnley, ©2023 Clemson Extension

Andy Rollins

Stinger is a selective post-emergent herbicide often used on strawberries. Its active ingredient is clopyralid. Many use it for controlling vetch. It has other weeds it controls, but many of them need to be controlled at a very early stage. You have to be careful with this herbicide as it can hurt your plants if not applied correctly. Please do not spray this product with anything else in the tank. This would include fungicides, insecticides, and no surfactants. Also, make sure your sprayer is calibrated. Using a rate just a little higher than the label recommends can be a major problem. Maybe even consider applying it below the labeled rate until you know you won’t cause damage. I am saying this because even when applied correctly, this product can cause the symptoms shown below. These plants should recover, but most growers really don’t want to see this. In the past, I have seen an accidental 2x application of this product stunt the crop so severely that some plants died, and none of them produced anywhere near where they should have. Stinger is a good herbicide; it just needs to be applied correctly.

If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988.