Research Stations - Horticultural Crops Castle Hayne - Research Programs

Research Programs

Horticultural Crops

Research at the station aims to help growers improve the quality and increase the yield of horticultural crops suitable for production in the Coastal Plain region of North Carolina. Research programs cover cultural practices, cultivar adaptability, new crops and the control of weeds, diseases and insects. Research is carried on through greenhouse studies and field experiments. Additional fruit and vegetable projects focus on blueberry breeding, evaluation of strawberry cultivars for Eastern North Carolina, weed control in fruit and vegetable crops and labeling of reduced-risk pesticides through the nationwide IR-4 program.

Small Fruits

Small fruit research at the station focuses on developing pest resistant cultivars that are productive, have good quality fruit, and are well adapted to local conditions. The station is home to one of the world’s top public blueberry breeding programs, and new strawberry selections are also evaluated annually. Work with muscadine grapes includes evaluation of cultivars for potential use in fresh market, wine, and organic production systems. Small fruit crops are an important dietary source of healthful antioxidants, and the station provides blueberries, grapes and strawberries for researchers who are investigating these health benefits at NCSU and other institutions nationwide.

Ornamentals

Ornamental research includes herbicide evaluations on container grown stock to develop newer, safer weed control products for use by commercial nurserymen.