Weekly Field Update
Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state.
Midlands
Rob Last
- On the whole, crops are looking good. There is evidence of some physical damage to many crops following last week’s rainfall event and storms. The physical damage is likely to increase given the heavy rainfall we have been receiving. Wounds can be a site of pathogen entry, like bacterial pathogens, for example.
- Given the volumes of rainfall we are receiving, making note of areas of fields with standing water will be beneficial to look at rectifying drainage in the future. Waterlogged soils will reduce vigor through anaerobic conditions, and will favor root rot pathogens, such as Phytophthora.
- Remember to mark any submerged crop areas, as these areas should be avoided during harvest to prevent bacterial contamination with human pathogens.
- Removal and destruction of waterlogged berries can also help to reduce pathogen inoculum.
- Scouting and monitoring once the weather dries up will be critical.
- On the positive side, the rainfall will be beneficial to reducing soil moisture deficits.
Sarah Scott
- The weather has not been on our side over the last couple of weeks. Edgefield County has been hit with hail twice, and is now receiving heavy rain that, although needed, will cause issues getting into the fields to work, pick and spray.
- Peaches are being harvested at good volume. Some fields were hit by hail from one of the two storms we had. Damage varies across the county. It is recommended to use Topsin-M, Captan, and copper applications to reduce the spread of disease following these events.
- Bacterial spot incidence is high in some varieties. This appears to be caused by an early season injury that allowed the disease to enter the fruit and spread. We are testing fruit to identify strains of disease as well as potential chemical resistance.
- Strawberries are in peak production and weather has made picking and management difficult.
Pee Dee
Christiana Huss
- Heavy rain all week could mark the end of strawberry season for many farms. I’ve observed (suspected) neopestalotiopsis spores on strawberries. The fruit was “melting” with tan soft spots and black spores.
- Blackberries have been ripening nicely. Stink bugs and leaffooted bugs are the most common pests I’ve seen on them.
- I’ve started seeing squash bugs on zucchini and summer squash. These bugs will build up their numbers quickly and weaken the plants.
- Potatoes and onions are being harvested and looking great!
Upstate
Briana Naumuk
- Temperatures here in the Upstate are beginning to rise with projected temperatures in the 80s this coming week. We have also gotten some much needed rain here over the weekend, which is projected to continue at the beginning of the week.
- These warm, wet conditions favor disease, so be sure to be diligent and scout this week.
- We have fruit on apple trees that are progressing well as there has not been a late cold snap this year. The projected harvest this year is mid to late July for the earliest apple varieties. Some growers are still struggling with San Jose scale.