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...
Category: In the Garden
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...
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – November 11, 2024
Weekly Field Update – 11/11/24 We finally got some rain this past week. Fall crops are coming along nicely with scattered insect and disease issues. Neopest is showing up in strawberries as plants...
Recycle Your Oyster Shells
Oyster Roast season is here, and this is your reminder to recycle your oyster shells! Our friends at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) have organized a statewide oyster...
Bishop’s Hat
One of my favorite perennials for dry shade is bishop’s hat (Epimedium species), also known as barrenwort or fairy wings. There are over fifty-eight different species of Epimedium that are native to...
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – November 4, 2024
The weather remains dry, with no real relief in sight. Strawberry planting has finished up and the condition of plantings is mixed. Disease levels are low due to the dry weather, while insect levels...
This Month in Your Garden- November 2024 November 4, 2024
Coastal Region – Glen Payne Fall temperatures appear to be right around the corner in the coastal region, as nighttime temperatures begin to dip into the fifties. Drier weather has helped pepper...
Spotted Lanternfly
While watching out for goblins and ghouls this Halloween night, be on the lookout for another scary sight: the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). Originally from Southeastern Asia,...
Question of the Week – Sandblasting
Why does this tomato appear scarred on one side but normal on the other? This tomato is scarred on the side facing the prevailing winds. It was found on the outside row, next to a dirt drive row and...
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report- October 28, 2024
Conditions remain dry across the state, requiring lots of irrigation for fall crops. Strawberry planting is winding down as the last few plant shipments arrive. Insect and disease issues are...
Dancing Ladies Ginger
In the fall of the year, it can be difficult to find color in shady areas of gardens in the coastal region of South Carolina. Dancing Ladies ginger (Globba winittii) grows in USDA planting zones 8...