Growing fruits is a rewarding experience for home gardeners, though it isn’t always easy. Experience and skill are often needed to appropriately manage the insect, disease, weed, fertility, and cultural issues that arise in the garden. Certain fruit crops are plagued by greater and more complex issues than others, making them far more challenging to grow; however, as gardening experience is gained and skills are developed, even the most complex of crops can be mastered.
This publication ranks common fruits grown in South Carolina into one of four groups (easy, intermediate, difficult, and very difficult) based on the experience level and skills required to grow them successfully. For each crop, a few reasons are given to explain why that crop was placed in its respective group, along with a few practices to help ensure success. Beginning growers are advised to develop their horticultural skills with crops in the Easy group before trying more advanced crops.
Fruit and Nut Crops Ranked by Difficulty for Home Gardeners
Easy-to-Grow Fruits
Fruits in this group are quite forgiving and are great for beginners. To be successful with these crops, gardeners should master proper variety selection, watering, liming and fertilizing, pruning, and basic pest management practices.
Fig: Once established, figs are easy to grow and yield well most years. Some varieties may grow up to 30 feet, requiring occasional pruning if planted too close to a structure. Root-knot nematodes may be an issue in some sites.
Tips for Success: Carefully choose planting sites where the fig will have plenty of room to grow. Avoid sites where nematode damage has been observed previously or submit a nematode sample to Clemson’s Pest and Diagnostic Clinic. Occasional watering may be necessary. Keep fruit picked regularly to avoid overripening, which attracts stinging insects. For more information, see HGIC 1353, Fig.
Intermediate Fruit Crops
Blueberries are easy to grow and can be incorporated into the landscape for food, wildlife, and aesthetics.
Zack Snipes, ©2020, Clemson Extension
Crops in this group are more affected by pests and cultural issues than the previous group. These crops can still be grown relatively easily, though issues may arise, requiring attention. Gardeners should continue to master watering, fertility, and pest management practices.
Blueberry: Selecting appropriate varieties to satisfy chilling requirements is perhaps the biggest challenge to growing blueberries. Spring frost/freeze events can severely damage blooms if the plants’ chilling requirements are met too early. Birds are a tremendous pest and may consume significant amounts of berries as they ripen, leaving few, if any, for the grower. Additionally, blueberries require annual pruning to ensure optimal fruiting.
Tips for Success: Carefully select varieties with chilling requirements appropriate for your region. Plant multiple varieties to ensure good pollination and to spread out the risk of damage from spring frost/freeze events. Protect ripening fruit from birds by covering plants with netting. Blueberries fruit on 1-year-old shoots, so prune annually to ensure plenty of healthy fruiting shoots. For more information, see HGIC 1401, Blueberry and HGIC, Protecting Berries from Birds.
Blueberries are easy to grow and can be incorporated into the landscape for food, wildlife, and aesthetics.
Zack Snipes, ©2020, Clemson Extension
Blackberries are a summertime treat for gardeners.
Justin Ballew, ©2021, Clemson Extension
Blackberry: Blackberries are native to the Southeast and can be found growing wild. They have a quick growth rate and need little attention in most years. Thorny cultivars may make picking a challenge, though thornless varieties are available. Humidity can make managing diseases difficult some years.
Tips for Success: Select blackberry varieties bred for cultivation. Bred varieties perform better than wild plants in taste, berry size, disease resistance, yield, and are often thornless. Construct a trellis to keep the plants off the ground to reduce disease and help maintain fruit quality. Prune annually to remove older, weak, and diseased canes. Fertilize and lime according to annual soil test results. Irrigating during fruiting may be necessary in times of drought. See HGIC 1400, Blackberry, for more information.
Muscadines are native to the Southeast and grow well on a backyard trellis.
Justin Ballew, ©2021, Clemson Extension
Muscadine: Muscadines are native to the Southeast and can be found growing wild. In cultivated plants, trellising and annual pruning help keep plants manageable and maximize yield. Diseases, such as bitter rot and black rot, and insects, such as Japanese beetles, may occasionally be a problem.
Tips for Success: Select varieties bred for cultivation. Construct a trellis to keep the plants off the ground, which will reduce disease and help maintain fruit quality. During the dormant season each year, prune back to a single lateral cordon on either side of the main trunk, leaving a 4-inch fruiting spur every 6 to 8 inches. Fertilize and lime according to annual soil test results. Irrigating from bud break to flowering may be necessary during times of drought. For more information, see HGIC blog Pruning Muscadines and HGIC 1403, Muscadine Grape.
Satsumas are cold-hardy citrus that do well in most years along the coast.
Zack Snipes, ©2022, Clemson Extension
Citrus: Though traditionally grown in tropical regions, citrus is gaining popularity in South Carolina. Certain types grow well in the lower Coastal Plain in most years, though susceptibility to cold is the biggest hurdle to production further inland.
Tips for Success: Choose varieties carefully. Kumquat and satsumas are the most cold-tolerant, though grapefruit and Meyer lemon may produce well along the coast in warmer years. If growing citrus in the upper Coastal Plain or the Piedmont region, it is advised to plant in a pot that can be moved into a greenhouse, garage, or storage building when temperatures are forecast to dip below 30 degrees F. Along the coast, field-grown citrus can be covered and kept warm with a heat lamp during cold snaps. Protecting the graft union is key. For more information, see HGIC 1363, Citrus and HGIC, Cold Tolerance in Citrus.
Fuyu persimmon is a great addition to the landscape.
Zack Snipes, ©2023, Clemson Extension
Asian Persimmon: Asian persimmons yield larger fruit compared to the persimmon native to the Southeast. Many varieties are not astringent, as the native persimmons commonly are when picked and eaten under-ripe. Some Asian persimmon varieties are monecious and will produce fruit with just one tree, unlike native persimmons, which require male and female trees. The fruit is irresistible to wildlife, including squirrels, opossums, raccoons, and deer. Pest insects include scale and the persimmon borer. It may take several years for trees to become productive.
Tips for success: Soil test annually, and lime and fertilizer accordingly. Provide adequate water, especially when fruit is sizing up. Netting may be used to exclude vertebrate pests. Wait until the fruit is ripe before harvesting astringent varieties. Non-astringent varieties may be harvested early.
Difficult Fruit to Grow
Crops in this group may be difficult to grow successfully due to weather sensitivity, pests, or other cultural issues that require frequent attention. Gardeners should be prepared to employ more intensive cultural and pest management techniques. These crops may not be good options for gardeners with limited time, budget, or equipment.
Pear (European and Asian type): The bacterial disease fire blight is the biggest concern in growing pears and can significantly reduce yield or lead to tree death. Failing to thin fruit following bloom results in massive amounts of small, poor-quality fruit that may not ripen properly. Wildlife often feeds on low-hanging fruit before they can be harvested. As with most fruit trees, it may take a few years before trees get into significant production.
Tips for success: Select varieties resistant to fire blight. Prune each winter and prune out any fire blight symptoms as they appear, sanitizing pruners between each cut. Soil test annually and apply lime and fertilizer accordingly. Fruit thinning early in the growing season is necessary to improve fruit size and quality and to keep limbs from breaking as fruit size up. Fencing may help in excluding wildlife. For more information, see HGIC 2208, Fire Blight of Fruit Trees and HGIC 1352, Asian Pear.
Pecan scab is one of the most significant pest issues affecting pecans.
Justin Ballew, ©2021, Clemson Extension
Pecan: While pecan trees have long been grown as yard trees in the South, achieving a dependable crop each year is challenging. Pecan scab is a common disease that can be a major factor, especially in wetter years. Pecan weevils are another challenging pest. The fungicide and insecticide sprays required to keep these pests at bay are extremely difficult for home gardeners to conduct safely and effectively. Adequate water and fertility are also important factors that are frequently overlooked. Lastly, pecan trees are messy, dropping branches continuously throughout the year, making them a poor choice for home gardeners looking for low-maintenance options.
Tips for Success: Manage established pecan trees similar to shade trees, and in drier years, they may yield a good crop. Soil test annually, and lime and fertilize accordingly. Provide water during dry periods, especially late in the summer when the nuts are filling. For new plantings, carefully select scab-resistant varieties. For more information, see HGIC 1635, Pecan Planting and Fertilization and HGIC 1362, FAQ About Pecan Production in the Home Garden.
Strawberries are a welcome sight in the early spring after a long winter.
Zack Snipes, ©2022, Clemson Extension
Strawberry: Strawberries are common in home gardens, though they are one of the more difficult crops to grow. Strawberries are best planted in the fall for a spring harvest; however, transplants often are not available in nurseries and garden centers until the spring. Spider mites and diseases, such as Botrytis, anthracnose fruit rot, and Phytophthora crown rot, create major challenges to growing strawberries. Proper fertilization and watering during bloom and fruiting are also important yet frequently overlooked. In addition, deer love strawberry foliage, which creates a tremendous challenge in areas with high deer populations.
Tips for Success: Plant strawberries in the fall if transplants can be found. Begin monitoring for spider mites and diseases immediately after planting and continue to monitor weekly throughout the growing season. Manage disease with regular fungicide applications and strict sanitation (removing dead or diseased tissue). Soil sample before planting and lime and fertilize accordingly. Tissue sample periodically once bloom begins and fertilize accordingly. A fence may be constructed around larger gardens to prevent deer damage. Hardware mesh cages can be constructed and placed over individual plants in smaller gardens. For more information, see HGIC 1405, Growing Strawberries and HGIC 2902, Deer Management for Home Gardeners Using a Two-Tiered Fence System.
Very Difficult Fruit Crops to Grow
These crops are very difficult for home gardeners to produce successfully and growing them is not advisable in most situations. Environmental factors and pest pressure often cause these crops to struggle, even under the most intensive management. Furthermore, the time and costs associated with management are typically not feasible on a backyard scale. While success is not impossible, these crops are best left to commercial growers.
Apple: Diseases, such as fire blight, scab, and cedar-apple rust, are the most significant factors limiting apple production in SC. While apple trees are often found in landscapes throughout the state, apples are grown commercially only in the Blue Ridge region of SC, where the weather is slightly cooler. However, intensive and costly disease management practices are still required. In other regions of the state, disease pressure makes apple production cost-prohibitive. While home gardeners may occasionally pick a few healthy apples, the vast majority are lost to disease.
Tips for Success: Buy apples from the grocery store or farmer’s markets. Visit apple orchards during the fall picking season, as well as the SC Apple Festival, held annually in Westminster, SC.
Pomegranate is a very difficult fruit to grow in South Carolina due to heat, humidity, and diseases.
Zack Snipes, ©2022, Clemson Extension
Peach, Plum, Nectarine: While South Carolina is one of the nation’s top producers of peaches, disease and insect pressure make growing them a challenge. Diseases like brown rot and insects, such as scale, require intensive and costly management practices. Peaches are also labor intensive, requiring annual pruning and fruit thinning to produce high-quality fruit. Selecting appropriate varieties to satisfy chilling requirements is extremely tough, as chilling hours may vary greatly from year to year.
Tips for Success: Buy peaches, plums, and nectarines from the grocery store or farmer’s markets. SC grown peaches can be found at stores and roadside stands all over the state. Peach festivals are held annually in Gaffney and Gilbert, SC.
Pomegranate: Pomegranate originated in Mediterranean climates, which are dry and mild. While pomegranates grow and flower well in South Carolina, the climate tends to be too hot and humid to reliably produce fruit. If fruit is produced, it is usually small and cracks as it ripens, allowing fungal pathogens to infect the inside of the fruit. Pomegranates are also susceptible to cold temperatures and may not survive winters in the upper Piedmont region.
Tips for Success: Pomegranate plants may be grown as ornamentals and make nice border or specimen plants in the landscape. Buy pomegranate fruit and juice from the grocery store.
Raspberry: Raspberries are grown commercially only in the northernmost parts of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge regions of South Carolina, where they are grown primarily in high tunnels. The heat, disease, and insect pressure make growing raspberries anywhere else in the state immensely difficult. Spotted wing drosophila is a particularly hard-to-manage pest that lays eggs in ripe fruit. As the eggs hatch, larvae are often visible in the fruit following harvest.
Tips for Success: Raspberries are recommended only for experienced growers in the upper Piedmont and Blue Ridge regions. Growing in high tunnels may help with disease management.
