COLUMBIA, SC – Plants grow and beetles crawl through the garden on warm spring days. We’ve seen some great questions on our Facebook group, WLTX Gandy’s Gardeners, over the past few weeks, and some great responses from gardeners who grow crops in the South Carolina Midlands.
A common problem that occurs with fruits and vegetables in the garden is flower end rot. The fruits begin to brown and rot at the tips, usually at a young age. The condition is the result of a lack of calcium in plants during the warmer months of the year, but adding calcium isn’t necessarily the solution. Irregular watering due to hot days or water retention problems in the soil can prevent plants from getting the calcium they need from the soil. While some gardeners on our site have reported being lucky enough to improve symptoms of flower end rot by adding calcium to the soil, others say it is a fluke and correcting the water and soil conditions will end the flower end rot in a matter of weeks. This problem is common with pumpkins, but it also occurs with other plants such as tomatoes and peppers.
Another problem that is beginning to develop for owners of pumpkin plants is powdery mildew. The leaves show a fungal coating that causes browning and curling. Copper fungicide, which keeps the leaves dry, provides proper airflow and plenty of sunlight, helps relieve symptoms.
Do you have gardening questions? Join our WLTX Gandy’s Gardeners Facebook group and share your gardening tips, photos, and concerns with fellow gardeners in the Southeast. It could inspire our next garden segment!
