What to plant this week in Greenville, SC
With the last frost date of March 13 now firmly in the rearview mirror, Greenville gardeners are in full swing for summer production in this humid Zone 8a valley. While you can already harvest early greens and beans sown weeks ago, focus your energy on staking tall vining crops like pole beans and cucumbers before the humidity drives them to sprawl.
The next 7 days
Greenville, SCGrowing in Greenville right now
- Greenville's notorious spring heat waves often arrive before the soil fully warms; use black plastic mulch on squash and melons immediately to keep roots cool while blocking weeds.
- The city sits in a low-lying valley where cold air settles, making late-night air drainage critical for preventing frost pockets even after the average March 13 date has passed.
- Heavy afternoon thunderstorms are common; ensure French Marigolds and Zinnias have wide-spaced planting to allow rapid drying of foliage and prevent fungal rot.
- Native clay-heavy soil in Upstate SC dries out quickly on hot days, so apply a thick layer of pine straw mulch to conserve moisture for Malabar Spinach and Okra.
Sow this week
17 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Summer Savory
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
36 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest through summer.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around squash to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
- Pinch back the tips of basil plants regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites will explode into the population by mid-April as humidity drops; inspect the undersides of Zinnias and Cleome daily for webbing.
- Aphids often attack young Bush Bean and Pole Bean seedlings in this warm valley climate, so introduce ladybugs or spray with insecticidal soap at first sign.
- Late-season blight can strike late-planted Summer Squash; rotate varieties from previous years to break the disease cycle.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants in the early morning to reduce evaporation and fungal risks.
Harvest leafy greens like malabar spinach and nasturtiums young and tender for the best flavor.
Greenville gardening questions
3Is it safe to transplant Okra and Bush Beans now that we passed March 13?
Yes, these warm-weather crops thrive in our current temperatures and should be started indoors or purchased as starts for immediate planting. Avoid waiting another week, as the soil heat will encourage rapid growth rather than shock recovery.
What is the best way to manage weeds without chemicals on my watermelon patch?
Since Greenville sees heavy rains followed by intense sun, lay down cardboard covered in 4 inches of pine straw mulch around your hills. This smothers emerging grasses while keeping the soil moisture stable for the developing fruit.
Can I still plant Zinnias if my last cold snap was a week ago?
Absolutely; Zinnias are listed as sowable now and will bloom spectacularly in our long growing season. Just water them deeply once every few days to handle the high evaporation rates common in our humid spring weather.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Greenville garden in SproutGuide →