What to plant this week in Greenville, SC
Greenville gardeners are in the thick of late-season warmth, with your frost-free window officially open until November 28. This week is all about maximizing yields on warm-weather crops like Watermelon and Okra before winter sets in mid-November.
The next 7 days
Greenville, SCGrowing in Greenville right now
- Protect young Garlic transplants from sudden cool snaps despite our generally mild zone 8a climate, as night temps can dip near the 10°F minimum threshold.
- Greenville's heavy clay soil retains moisture well but drains poorly; ensure deep tilting around Acorn Squash and Butternut Squash to prevent root rot during frequent rains.
- Take advantage of the current dry streak between storm systems to finish planting late-blooming Zinnias and Cosmos that need full sun exposure.
- Monitor water levels for Sweet Corn and Flour Corn, as our erratic rainfall patterns can quickly stress pollination if soil dries out too fast.
Sow this week
2 crops- Garlic
- 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
- Harvest acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash while they are still tender before the skins toughen up.
- Succession sow bush beans, cowpeas, and pole beans now to extend your bean harvest into late summer.
- Pinch back basil and borage regularly to encourage lush growth and prevent bolting as heat increases.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for squash vine borers on your Acorn Squash and Delicata plants, which become active as temperatures remain consistently above 60°F.
- Check Black-Eyed Peas (Cowpea) and Pole Beans for aphid colonies that thrive in our humid lowcountry air this time of year.
- Inspect the undersides of Morning Glory leaves for spider mites, a common issue when wind patterns shift in late autumn.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of squash and melons every 2-3 days to keep fruits from cracking and foliage from rotting.
Don't forget to harvest garlic that is listed for both sowing now and harvesting soon, as it may be a late spring crop or early fall storage bulb depending on your specific microclimate.
Greenville gardening questions
3Can I still plant Garlic now or should I wait?
Yes, you can sow Garlic immediately as it is on your list for sowing, but ensure the soil isn't too saturated before pushing the cloves deep into the ground.
Which summer crops are ready for harvest right now?
Focus on harvesting Acorn Squash, Basil, and Bush Beans this week before the first frost hits on November 28.
How do I handle the heavy clay soil in Greenville for my pumpkins?
Amend your planting beds with plenty of compost or aged manure to improve drainage and aeration around Pumpkin roots.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Greenville garden in SproutGuide →