What to plant this week in Charleston, SC
Charleston gardeners are currently in the thick of summer heat with average lows hitting 20°F only during rare cold snaps, meaning frost is a non-factor until mid-December. This week marks the ideal harvest window for your acorn and butternut squash while basil and okra keep producing despite the humidity.
The next 7 days
Charleston, SCGrowing in Charleston right now
- Charleston's sandy loam soil warms quickly in spring but dries out fast under our subtropical sun; mulch heavily around transplants to retain moisture for beans and melons.
- Our low-lying coastal terrain often experiences wind-driven rain, so secure tall crops like corn and sunflowers with staking before the afternoon thunderstorms arrive.
- The high humidity typical of this week can encourage fungal issues on leafy greens; harvest early morning when foliage is dry to reduce rot risk.
Sow this week
2 crops- Daikon Radish
- Ornamental Allium
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Acorn Squash
- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Butternut Squash
- Cantaloupe
- Celosia (Cockscomb)
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Delicata Squash
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Morning Glory
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Purslane
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Spaghetti Squash
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow fast-maturing crops like Daikon Radish or Ornamental Allium to extend your season's variety.
- Mulch around heavy feeders like Okra and Bush Beans to retain moisture as summer heat intensifies.
- Deadhead Zinnias and Cosmos regularly to encourage continuous blooming for pollinators.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are exploding in Charleston's hot, humid weather and will quickly decimate basil and zinnia leaves if not treated with a strong water spray.
- Aphids thrive in our warm nights, frequently clustering on the new growth of edamame and pole beans this time of year.
- Root maggots remain active in the soil, targeting newly sown Daikon radishes and ornamental alliums before they establish deep roots.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to reduce evaporation, especially during hot spells.
Harvest Edamame and Green Beans every two days to keep plants producing their best pods.
Charleston gardening questions
3Is it safe to plant cold-sensitive starts like tomatoes now that we are past the February 6 frost date?
While the last frost date is Feb 6, Charleston's lingering cool spring nights can still shock tender transplants; wait until soil temps consistently hit 60°F before moving sensitive crops outside.
My squash and melons seem to be stalling in growth this week—what should I do?
This is likely due to our sandy soil drying out too quickly; apply a thick layer of organic mulch around the base of Acorn Squash and Watermelon to keep roots cool and hydrated.
Can I still harvest Garlic or start it now in Zone 9a Charleston?
Garlic listed for 'harvest soon' refers to stored bulbs ready from last fall's crop; do not plant new garlic cloves yet as the ground is too warm for proper bulb development until autumn.
Other cities in zone 9a
9See the full zone 9a guide → · Plan your Charleston garden in SproutGuide →