The Home and Garden Information Center

The Home & Garden Information Center (HGIC) provides research-based information on landscaping, gardening, plant health, household pests, food safety and preservation, and nutrition, physical activity & health. HGIC is designed to complement Clemson’s network of professionals and volunteers by answering the routine types of calls and thereby freeing agents to deal with commercial agriculture/horticulture questions and conduct proactive programming to larger audiences. 1-888-656-9988 (SC residents only, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, M – F)

In the Garden
Photo Blog
Tasty Bites
Recipes

Question of the Week: Spinach Seedlings

Mar 26, 2025 | In the Garden

Spinach seedlings are emerging in this thriving growing bed! 🌱 These direct-seeded plants are pushing through the plastic mulch, showing strong germination and healthy growth. Spinach prefers soil temperatures between 45-75°F, with an optimal range around 70°F, but germination declines once temperatures exceed 85°F. Suitable for various soil types across South Carolina, spinach thrives in a pH range of 6-7. With proper conditions, this grower will be harvesting fresh salad greens in just 30 days!

SC Fruit & Vegetable Field Report – March 24, 2025

Mar 25, 2025 | In the Garden
5 Native Trees to Plant for Bees

Mar 24, 2025 | In the Garden
Grower Spotlight – Bush-N-Vine

Mar 19, 2025 | In the Garden
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report- March 17, 2025

Mar 18, 2025 | In the Garden
Epsom Salt in the Garden—Is it truly needed?

Mar 17, 2025 | In the Garden

March 24 Week 4 Garden Photos

Mar 24, 2025 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

“Spring is far more than just a changing of seasons; it’s a rebirth of the...

March 17 Week 3 Garden Photos

Mar 17, 2025 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants
March 10 Week 2 Garden Photos

Mar 10, 2025 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants
March 3 Week 1 Garden Photos

Mar 3, 2025 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants
February 24 Week 4 Garden Photos

Feb 24, 2025 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants
February 17 Week 3 Garden Photos

Feb 17, 2025 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

Eat Your Greens: Health Benefits & Easy Ways to Add Leafy Greens to Your Diet

Mar 20, 2025 | Tasty Bites

Leafy greens are nutritional powerhouses, loaded with vitamin C, folate, and antioxidants—but they often get a bad reputation, especially among kids and picky eaters. Whether you're looking to boost your health, manage calories, or add variety to your meals, this guide shares easy and delicious ways to enjoy spinach, kale, arugula, and more. Plus, learn how to avoid high-calorie salad pitfalls and keep your greens safe with food safety tips. Read on for simple strategies to make leafy greens a staple in your diet!

Beer Style Highlight: Irish Red Ale

Mar 14, 2025 | Tasty Bites
Beer Style Highlight: Imperial Stout

Feb 17, 2025 | Food, Tasty Bites
Winter’s Toll: Why We’re More Susceptible to Illness

Feb 12, 2025 | Health, Tasty Bites
What is Raw Milk?

Feb 6, 2025 | Food, Tasty Bites
New Year Food Traditions

Jan 30, 2025 | Food, Tasty Bites

Creamy Fruit Salad

Sep 2, 2022 | Recipes

Salad: 8 cups of mixed fruit cut into bite-sized pieces (apple, grapes, pineapple, strawberries,...

Blueberry, Peach, and Cucumber Salad

Sep 1, 2022 | Recipes
BLT Pasta Salad

Aug 31, 2022 | Recipes
Hibiscus Ginger Tea

Jun 22, 2022 | Recipes
Banana Blueberry Muffins

Jun 21, 2022 | Food, Recipes
Apple and Pear Waldorf Salad

Nov 22, 2021 | Recipes

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Vegetable Garden

Snails & Slugs in the Home Garden

Nov 8, 2024 | Landscape, Problems, Vegetables

Learn how to manage snails and slugs and prevent them from harming plants.

Vegetable and Herb Crops Ranked by Difficulty for Home Gardeners

Aug 20, 2024 | Fruits & Vegetables, Vegetables
Planning a Garden

Feb 12, 2021 | Fruits & Vegetables, In the Garden, Vegetables
Starting Seeds Indoors

Apr 17, 2020 | Fruits & Vegetables, In the Garden, Vegetables

Landscape

Chinese Fringetree Puts on a Show in the Spring

Apr 29, 2024 | In the Garden

Many of you may be familiar with our native fringetree, Chionanthus virginicus, often called...

Bradford and Callery Pear

Feb 22, 2024 | In the Garden, Trees
A Bouquet of Sunshine

Mar 3, 2023 | In the Garden
Now Is the Time to Put Out Hummingbird Feeders

Mar 11, 2021 | In the Garden

Food

Holiday Dinner Rolls

Dec 20, 2024 | Tasty Bites

The holidays are here, and no festive feast is complete without fresh, homemade dinner rolls. This recipe offers an easy-to-follow method for creating sweet, Hawaiian-style rolls with a fluffy texture, guaranteed to impress your friends and family. From proofing the dough to that first warm bite, baking these rolls will fill your kitchen with joy and the delightful scent of the season.