Pepper
Planting Peppers (Capsicum annuum) are warm-season plants that grow best at temperatures of 70 to 85 °F during the day and 60 to 70 °F during the night. Peppers generally require a long growing...
Category: Vegetables
Spinach
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a hardy, cool-season crop that can be planted in early spring or fall throughout South Carolina. It can survive temperatures of 20 °F without injury, making it an...
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...
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...
Root-Knot Nematodes in the Vegetable Garden
Root-knot nematodes attack a wide variety of plants and can become serious pests in the home garden. They are microscopic roundworms that live in the soil and on plant roots. They injure plants by...
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,...
Recommendations for Liming and Fertilizing Vegetables
Prior to fertilizing or liming, a soil sample should be taken to ensure the appropriate amounts of nutrients are applied. Ideally, this should be done well in advance of planting (at least three...
Starting Seeds Indoors
Growing vegetable transplants from seed is a relatively easy task that can provide many benefits to gardeners. The benefits of growing transplants include a unique choice of cultivars, control over...
Harvesting Vegetables
A major reason for growing vegetables at home is to produce crops of a higher eating quality than may be otherwise available. For shipping and storage reasons, many commercially-grown vegetables are...
Watering the Vegetable Garden
The home gardener has several ways of irrigating the garden: a watering can; a garden hose with a fan nozzle or spray attachment; a portable lawn sprinkler; a soaker hose; or drip or trickle...
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...
Okra
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a warm-season crop grown throughout South Carolina. It is a tall, upright plant with a hibiscus-like flower that originated in Africa. The immature, young seed pods...