Category: In the Garden

This Month in Your Garden – December 2024

December brings unique gardening opportunities across South Carolina! Discover tips for winter lawn care, planting spring bulbs, and managing cool-season vegetables. Explore festive indoor plants like poinsettias, amaryllis, and holiday cacti, and learn how to make the most of your winter landscape with vibrant pansies, ornamental kale, and more. Whether you’re in the Coastal, Midlands, or Upstate regions, this guide has everything you need for a productive and festive gardening season.

Pumpkins: Fruit or Veggie?

Are pumpkins fruits or vegetables? While often treated as vegetables in cooking, pumpkins are botanically classified as fruits. Learn more about the uses of pumpkins, from pies to fall decor, and find out when to plant them for a bountiful harvest in your region.

Question of the Week – Spined Soldier Bug

This caterpillar is falling prey to the spined soldier bug (Podisus maculiventris), a beneficial stink bug species that hunts over 90 pest insects, such as caterpillars and beetles. Recognizable by their pointed shoulders and black wing spot, spined soldier bugs play a vital role in pest control. Learn how to identify them and distinguish them from plant-feeding stink bugs.

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – November 25, 2024

The November 25, 2024, SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report highlights favorable weather for fall crops, with greens thriving for Thanksgiving. While pest and disease issues remain minimal, strawberries show variable development heading into winter. Learn about brassica research updates, field day insights, and pest control tips, plus catch the latest SC Grower Exchange Podcast.

Pesticide Use on Indoor Plants: Key Considerations

Indoor plants can attract pests, but using pesticides safely is key to protecting your home and health. This guide covers how to identify pests, choose the right pesticide, follow label instructions, and apply products safely indoors. Stay informed about best practices for pesticide use and emergency procedures in case of poisoning.

Shrubs For Fall Color

Add vibrant hues to your garden with these shrubs for fall color. Explore the best varieties and tips for creating a stunning autumn landscape.

Question of the Week – Virus

The green circular patterns and discoloration on this pumpkin are caused by a viral infection, commonly found in fall cucurbit crops in South Carolina. Spread by aphids or cucumber beetles, these viruses often result in mosaic patterns and may be confused with herbicide damage.

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – November 18, 2024

The November 18, 2024, SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report highlights crop conditions across the Coastal, Midlands, Pee Dee, and Upstate regions. Strawberries are thriving, brassicas are being harvested, and growers are managing pests like whiteflies and spider mites. Learn about current weather challenges and crop management strategies in South Carolina agriculture.

Sage: The Wisest Herb

Whenever I think of culinary sage, I think of turkey stuffing. In my mind, I’ve relegated the herb to Thanksgiving feasts. But sage (Salvia officinalis) is a versatile garden plant humans have...

American Pokeweed

American pokeweed is a striking, yet toxic, native plant found in gardens, fields, and roadsides. Despite its potential dangers, it has been valued for its berries, which provide food for birds and its historical use in dye and medicine. While pokeweed’s young shoots are consumed in southern dishes like poke sallet, caution is required due to its toxicity. Learn more about this fascinating plant’s role in nature and culture.

Question of the Week – Luffa Gourd

What crop is this? This is a luffa gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca). A similar species (Luffa acutangula) is sometimes also called Chinese okra because of its okra-like shape and pronounced ribbing of its...

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