Trowels at the Ready: Preparing Your Golden Strip Garden for Spring

As the days grow longer in the Golden Strip, local gardeners are trading catalogs for trowels to prepare for the spring season. While the Upstate is known for its red clay, residents in Mauldin, Simpsonville, and Fountain Inn have several local resources to help their gardens thrive this year.

Planting now: the cool season essentials

February in the Golden Strip is the perfect time for cool-weather crops that can handle a light frost. Current tasks for the local vegetable patch include:

• Direct sowing: Now is the time to put Irish potatoes, carrots, radishes, and peas directly into the soil.

• Leafy greens: Lettuce, spinach, kale, and mustard greens can be started now. These plants often thrive in the crisp morning air before the humid South Carolina heat settles in.

• Indoor head starts: For warm-weather favorites like tomatoes and peppers, experts suggest starting seeds indoors now to have them ready for transplanting in late April.

Local stops for gardening needs

For those looking to stock up on seeds, starters, or soil, several local businesses serve the Mauldin, Simpsonville, and Fountain Inn communities:

• Hogg Greenhouses (Simpsonville): Located on South Main Street, this local staple offers a wide variety of vegetable plants, herbs, and annuals, along with local honey.

• Landscapers Supply (Simpsonville): Situated on Fairview Road, this is a go-to spot for bulk mulch, topsoil, and high-quality gardening tools.

• The Neighborhood Nursery (Fountain Inn): Found on Fairview Road, they specialize in unique edible plants like pink lemonade blueberry bushes and cold-hardy citrus trees.

• Martin Garden Center (Greenville/Mauldin border): Just off Mauldin Road, this massive five-acre center carries everything from tiny herb starters to large shrubs and trees.

• Country Boys Home and Garden (Woodruff Road): A family-owned business that is a popular destination for vegetable plugs and outdoor garden decor.

Protecting your soil

Experienced local gardeners recommend maintaining a two-inch layer of mulch to regulate soil temperature. Before adding fertilizer, the Clemson Extension suggests a soil test to determine exactly what your land needs. Testing kits are often available at local supply stores or through the Greenville County extension office.

Upcoming spring events

Mark your calendars for these local plant sales and festivals:

• Upstate Native Plant Sale: Scheduled for Saturday, April 12, at Conestee Stadium, featuring thousands of native perennials.

• Piedmont Plant and Flower Festival: Typically held at the Greenville State Farmers Market in late April, offering one of the largest selections of spring plants in the area.

Whether you are tending a few containers on a patio or a full backyard plot, the work done in the next few weeks will provide the foundation for a successful summer harvest.