Preserving Your Harvest: Safe Ways to Enjoy Summer Produce All Year Long
Learn safe, research-based ways to freeze, can, and dehydrate summer fruits and vegetables to reduce food waste and enjoy your harvest all year.
Tag: Blogs
South Carolina Field Update (July 27, 2026): Fall Planting Has Begun
Fall vegetable planting is underway across South Carolina despite continued hot, dry weather. This week’s field report covers disease pressure, cucumber beetles, peach harvest, irrigation challenges, and the latest observations from Extension specialists across the state.
How To Grow and Care for Ornamental Sweetpotato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)
Ornamental sweetpotato vine (Ipomoea batatas) is an easy-to-grow annual prized for its colorful foliage and vigorous growth. Learn how to plant, grow, propagate, overwinter tubers, and choose the best cultivars for containers, hanging baskets, and landscape beds.
July 27 Week 4 Garden Photos
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the...
Garden Artist and Pest Controller:The Potter Wasp
Discover how the fraternal potter wasp builds tiny clay nests, protects its young, and naturally controls caterpillars, making it a beneficial garden insect.
South Carolina Field Update (July 20, 2026): Scout for Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper
South Carolina growers should remain on alert for the invasive two-spot cotton leafhopper as neighboring states report new detections. This week’s field update covers regional crop conditions, weather impacts, irrigation, disease pressure, and harvest outlooks for watermelon, okra, blueberries, figs, muscadines, and apples.
Keeping Food Safe When Dining Outdoors: Summer Food Safety Tips
Warm weather makes outdoor meals enjoyable, but it also increases the risk of foodborne illness. Learn practical food safety tips for picnics, cookouts, and other outdoor gatherings, including safe food temperatures, proper cooler use, handwashing, and ways to prevent bacterial growth during hot summer months.
July 20 Week 3 Garden Photos
“A garden is a love song, a duet between a human being and Mother Nature.” ~Jeff Cox~ Rabbiteye Blueberries (Vaccinium virgatum) Julia Nichols, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension Tree frog in a Hosta...
South Carolina Field Update (July 13, 2026): Rain Brings An Increase in Disease
Rain brought relief across South Carolina but increased disease pressure. Get the latest crop conditions, pest updates, and harvest reports from around the state.
The Science of Connection: Why Relationships Matter for Your Health
Strong social connections improve physical and mental health. Learn why relationships matter and simple ways to strengthen your social network.
July 13 Week 2 Garden Photos
“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August.” ~Jenny Han~ Woodland Pinkroot (Spigelia marilandica) Julia Nichols, ©HGIC 2026, Clemson Extension...
This Month in Your Garden- July 2026
July brings heat, drought, and peak growing season across South Carolina. Discover region-specific gardening advice from Clemson Extension experts on watering lawns and landscapes, harvesting herbs, caring for vegetables and fruit, managing summer pests, and preparing for fall planting in the Coastal, Midlands, and Upstate regions.