Clemson Extension agents provide updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state.
Lowcountry Report
Zack Snipes
- We have had some cells of weather come through lately, but they have been really spotty and have dumped very little rain. Hopefully, we can catch some measurable precipitation today and tomorrow. We need moisture in the ground to get fall-planted crops off to a good start and to bed up land for strawberries.Â
- Dr. Bilbo and I spent a day last week on St. Helena Island scouting okra, eggplant, sunflower and hibiscus for the invasive two-spotted cotton leaf hopper. Last year, it devastated okra, beginning in August. Keep an eye out for this pest as it has been found in Georgia at similar latitudes, so it is probably just a matter of time before it gets here.Â
- Watermelons and okra are coming in at heavy volumes and high quality. Â
Midlands Report
Rob Last
- Insect activity remains strong, with pepper weevils, leaf-footed bugs, aphids and cucumber beetles appearing in many crops.
- As yet, we have no reports of the two-spot cotton leaf hopper being found.Â
- Disease activity in fields remains low, except for powdery mildew, which is appearing in many crops. Keep scouting to ensure timely treatments.
- Fall plantings, in spite of the hot, dry conditions, are developing well.
- Cut flowers are also looking great this year.
Daniel Lyon
- I received 4 inches of rain at my house over the weekend. While this has been great for row crop growers, many of our vegetable growers have been trying to prep fields for a fall crop.
- Last week, I saw quite a few bare ground fields getting ready to plant fall squash. These fields will be nearly impossible to work now.
- The rain is not forecast to stop any time in the next week.