What to plant this week in Columbia, SC
With the last frost officially behind us on March 1, Columbia's gardeners are ready to blast through Zone 8b's spring planting window. This week marks the perfect time to sow warm-season favorites like okra and southern peas while your early harvest of basil and bush beans begins ripening in the mild 80s.
The next 7 days
Columbia, SCGrowing in Columbia right now
- Columbia's clay-heavy soils can stay cool longer in spring; incorporate generous amounts of compost to improve drainage before planting heat-lovers like cucumbers.
- The city sits in a floodplain near the Congaree River, so check low-lying garden areas for lingering puddles or poor drainage that could rot transplants.
- Expect rapid afternoon thunderstorms typical of the mid-South; use row covers or temporary shade cloth to protect young sunflowers and beans from hail damage.
- Soil temperatures are finally rising enough for cowpeas and scarlet runner beans, but avoid planting watermelons until the ground is consistently warm above 60°F.
Sow this week
30 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
39 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for continuous harvests.
- Mulch around young summer squash and watermelons to retain soil moisture as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tips of zinnias and cosmos to encourage bushier growth and more blooms.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphids clustering on new growth of basil and nasturtiums as spring air warms up.
- Spider mites may appear on stressed seedlings if recent drought stress occurs between rain events.
- Monitor squash vine borers on young zucchini plants, which are active just as the first blooms form.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep roots hydrated and reduce evaporation during hot afternoons.
Harvest bush beans when pods are tender but before they begin to flower or turn woody.
Columbia gardening questions
3Is it safe to put out my cold-weather crops like garlic right now?
No, garlic and other cool-season crops should have been planted weeks ago in late winter; at this stage in Columbia's calendar, focus entirely on warm-season starts like okra and melons.
How do I protect my beans from the sudden April thunderstorms common here?
Install lightweight row covers or temporary shade cloth over young pole bean plants to shield them from hail while still allowing air circulation.
Can I start harvesting watermelon this week in Columbia?
Not yet; even though you can sow seeds now, wait until the first true blooms appear on vines before expecting fruit, which usually takes 6-8 weeks after planting.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Columbia garden in SproutGuide →