Fall in Horry County means the summer tourists have gone back home, school sports have picked back up, the humidity is starting to drop, mornings are cooler, and festivals are abundant. If this is your first fall in the county, welcome! Unless you moved from a more southern state or tropical location, you may experience a few autumn culture shocks.
Much of South Carolina, and all of Horry County, is considered the Köppen Climate Classification of humid subtropical. This means that we have hot, humid summers and mild winters. The elevation in the county ranges from approximately -16 to 131 feet, and our USDA Plant Hardiness Zone is 8b. Why is any of that critical to your fall plans?
Due to our climate, elevation, and hardiness zones, the agritourism opportunities and fall experiences may be different from what was available in another county or state.
Horry County is not known for growing apples, cranberries, and pumpkins or for having the vibrant changing leaves that other states experience. We do have an abundance of fall festivals on local farms, sweet potatoes are being harvested and an extended summer vegetable crop is available while winter crops are growing!
Please remember to share the road with farm equipment as crops like cotton, peanuts, and soybeans are being harvested. Our roads are often too narrow and unsafe for the farmers to pull over to let vehicles pass. They are often not traveling more than a couple of miles, and you will be able to return at the posted speed.
Let’s tackle some of the most frequently asked questions we get throughout the fall at the Clemson Cooperative Extension Horry County office.
Where can I go apple picking locally?
Unfortunately, nowhere. Apples grow best west and north of the Sandhills region of South Carolina, where the soil and climate are more conducive for production. On the coast, disease pressure, high temperatures, and humidity make growing apple trees difficult if not impossible. If you would like to stay in the state for apple picking, you can head to the Upstate! Our neighbor to the north, North Carolina, is one of the top 10 apple-producing states in the country if you and your family are looking for a weekend getaway! Check out this Home Garden Information Center (HGIC) article about South Carolina apples to learn more.
Where can I go pumpkin picking locally?
Pumpkins are like apples, they are not fans of the humidity in the county and our climate creates a bounty of disease and pest pressure for the plants. It is not impossible to grow pumpkins and gourds here, but extremely challenging. The typical pumpkin takes anywhere from 70 to 120 days to mature, meaning they have to be planted in June and July to be ready for the fall festivals.
Several local farms offer fall festivals with pumpkin patches, but you will likely not find them growing in a field where you can cut them yourself. These farmers have purchased pumpkins from growers in areas that have a more conducive climate, usually from another part of SC, NC or VA. Many people are disappointed when they experience this, but remember that you are supporting a local farmer who is supporting another farmer!
How do I find local farms offering fall events and products?
The South Carolina Agritourism Association sends out a monthly newsletter with events happening on farms across the state, organized by region. You can also click on “Agritourism Farms” and select “Horry County” to see all of the local farms in the Association, the products offered and how to support them.
How long are the farmer’s markets open?
Most of the markets stay open through October. You can visit the Waccamaw Market Cooperative website to find the market closest to you and their specific closing date. Several of the locations will transition to weekly markets through the winter, or they will have pop up markets.
What crops are available in the fall that are grown locally?
Due to our extended growing season, some farmers will still have beans, cucumbers, peppers, squashes, okra and more growing. Sweet potatoes are being harvested! Crops like beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, garlic, kale, lettuce, mustard, onion, peas, spinach, and turnips have been planted and will grow at varying rates for fall availability. When you’re driving through the rural parts of the county, you will see cotton, peanuts and soybeans being harvested. If you pass a field where corn was harvested and now it looks like green grass, that farmer is using cover crops to protect and nourish the soil through the winter.
My yard is turning brown and I think the grass is dying, should I tear it all up?
Because of our subtropical climate, many assume that their yard will be green year round. Our warm season grasses (St. Augustine, Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, Centipedegrass, and Carpetgrass) will go dormant with fall freezes, but you can expect them to green up in the spring!
Is it ok to plant flowers, shrubs, and trees this time of year?
It depends on what you are planting! Fall is the best time to plant woody trees and shrubs. Cooler temperatures allow for easier establishment of the plants. This also means less watering! Winter annuals and many spring flowering bulbs can also be planted in the fall but make sure to look up specific planting requirements for each plant. If you are not sure where to start with plant selection, check out the Carolina Yards Plant Database.
I see other people putting out fertilizer on their grass. Is that something I should be doing?
For most folks late fertilization is not going to be beneficial. In fact as a general rule, it can be harmful to the turfgrass to use fertilizers containing nitrogen after the middle to end of August. It is very important to only fertilize based on the results of a soil test and the specific needs of each turf grass.
Is it still hurricane season?
When fall hits and we are all enjoying pumpkin spice, football, and the beautiful outdoors it can be easy to forget about hurricanes. Hurricane season does not end until November 30. Stay vigilant and remember to secure your fall lawn decor if we are expecting a tropical system to move through! Check your emergency supply kits and check in with the SC Emergency Management Division for more information and resources.
For more information, or to ask questions, you can stop by the Clemson Cooperative Extension Horry County Office. We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at 1949 Industrial Park Rd Conway, SC 29526. Your GPS should bring you straight to us, but if not you can give us a call at 843-365-6715.
