What to plant this week in Greenville, SC
With average last frost now settled in March 13, Greenville gardeners are well into the warm season where soil temperatures have stabilized for direct sowing heat-loving crops like okra and sweet corn. This week marks the peak harvest window for your early beans and melons before the late summer humidity triggers rapid fungal growth on leafy greens.
The next 7 days
Greenville, SCGrowing in Greenville right now
- Greenville's steep river valley terrain creates microclimates; ensure water drains quickly from planting sites to prevent root rot in our heavy clay-loam soils.
- The city's distinct wet-dry rainfall pattern means you must check soil moisture twice weekly during dry spells, as heavy summer storms often follow rapid drying periods.
- Native Piedmont pests thrive here; keep compost piles away from the garden edge to deter ants and avoid planting tall crops like sunflowers near low-hanging power lines common in our neighborhoods.
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
41 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- 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 a continuous harvest throughout the summer.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around warm-season vegetables to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool.
- Pinch back the tops of basil plants regularly to encourage bushier growth before harvesting leaves.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are exploding on beans and okra due to recent heat spikes, requiring immediate water sprays or insecticidal soap.
- Early blight is attacking tomatoes and peppers as humidity rises; prune lower leaves and apply copper fungicide now before spores spread.
- Cutworms are actively feeding on young bean seedlings at night; hand-pick them in the evening or use protective collars immediately.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep moisture consistent but avoid wetting the foliage to prevent disease.
Harvest beans when pods are young and tender to maximize flavor and encourage further production from each plant.
Greenville gardening questions
3Can I still start cold-hardy crops like spinach in Greenville this week?
No, Malabar Spinach is your best option as it tolerates heat better than traditional leafy greens. Traditional spinach will bolt and turn bitter almost instantly at these current temperatures.
How do I protect my watermelon from the heavy summer storms typical of Greenville?
Build raised beds or mounds to improve drainage since our valley soil stays wet too long, which causes root rot. Cover plants with row covers only during actual storm fronts, then remove them to allow proper pollination.
Is it safe to transplant basil now even though the list says 'sow now'?
While you can sow basil directly in the ground, starting seed indoors a week early gives you larger plants for this harvest window. Transplanting is fine as long as you harden off seedlings gradually against our strong afternoon sun.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Greenville garden in SproutGuide →