Controlling Fire Ants in the Vegetable Garden
Fire ants can be a nuisance in the vegetable garden. In addition to being a stinging insect, they can damage some vegetable crops, such as okra and Irish potatoes. Occasionally they may feed on...
Category: Vegetables
Irish & Sweet Potato Diseases
Many diseases of Irish and sweet potatoes can be prevented in the home vegetable garden by using the following cultural controls: Always purchase certified disease-free potato tubers. Saving your...
Tomato Diseases & Disorders
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) can be grown on almost any moderately well-drained soil type. A good supply of organic matter can increase yield and reduce production problems. Tomatoes and related...
Tomato Insect Pests
The tomato fruitworm (Helicoverpa zea) is the most damaging tomato insect pest in South Carolina. Fruitworms occur throughout the Western Hemisphere extending as far north as Canada and as far south...
Cucumber, Squash, Melon & Other Cucurbit Diseases
Many diseases of cucurbits can be prevented or minimized in the home vegetable garden by using the following simple cultural controls: Plant certified disease-free seeds. Select varieties...
Cucumber, Squash, Melon & Other Cucurbit Insect Pests
Cucumber Beetles The spotted, striped, and banded cucumber beetles are very harmful to cucurbits (members of the gourd family, including cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and squashes), particularly...
Cabbage, Broccoli & Other Cole Crop Diseases
Cole crops, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower, are easily grown in South Carolina. Tips for growing healthy cole crops in the garden are available in HGIC 1301, Broccoli,...
Insect Pests of Sweet Corn
Cutworms Cutworms damage a few plants in most gardens every year, but some gardens are so heavily infested as to warrant control by the grower. Bottomland (low-lying land, creek bottoms, etc.) is...
Sweet Corn Diseases
Sweet corn is seldom seriously damaged by diseases in the home garden. Reduce many of the potential disease problems by following proper cultural practices, including: Use commercially grown...
Cabbage, Broccoli & Other Cole Crop Insect Pests
Aphids Two primary species of aphids (plant lice) attack cole crops: the cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) and the turnip aphid (Lipaphis erysimi). Because they are similar in life habits and...
Arugula, Kale, Mesclun, Mustard, and Swiss Chard
The term ‘greens’ refers to a variety of species, such as arugula, kale, mesclun, mustard, and Swiss chard, grown for their tender, edible leaves. Some common species are outlined below; however,...
How to Build a Grow Light Setup to Grow Plants from Seeds
Home gardeners can grow hundreds of plants from seeds in their home by building a grow light setup. Many grow light setup variations will produce transplants, but the one below will last many...