The Farm at Florence 1

Most broken stems and rotted fruit aren't caused by weather or pests. They're caused by the wrong support — or no support until it's too late.

Every plant climbs, sprawls, or stands differently. The support that works for one growth habit fails another.

🌿 Four supports matched to what actually needs them:

- Bamboo stakes — for peppers, eggplants, and dahlias. These plants grow mostly upright but get top-heavy when loaded with fruit or large blooms. A single vertical stake with a soft tie keeps the main stem from snapping in a summer storm. Simple, cheap, and enough for anything that doesn't climb

- Wire cages — for bush tomatoes, tomatillos, and peonies. These plants spread outward and reach a set height, then stop. The cage holds them from all sides without constant tying. Don't use these for vining tomatoes — they outgrow the cage by midsummer

- A-frame trellises — for cucumbers, pole beans, and peas. The angled netting lets climbing tendrils weave upward while fruit hangs down through the gaps, off the wet soil and away from ground-level slugs. The air circulation on a trellis also reduces the fungal problems that hit sprawling vines

- Cattle panel arches — for winter squash, melons, and heavy gourds. Welded steel is strong enough to hold the weight these vines produce. The arch saves ground space and the fruit hangs clean instead of sitting in mud. Support heavy individual fruit with fabric slings once they start sizing up

🌱 Three habits that prevent most support failures:

- Install on planting day — driving a stake into the ground after roots have spread damages the root system you spent weeks building
- Tie with flexible material — old t-shirt strips or soft twine. Rigid wire or thin string cuts into expanding stems as the plant grows
- If the plant is outgrowing the support by midsummer, the support was wrong from the start. Step up rather than adding ties — more ties on a weak structure just delays the collapse

The support goes in the day the plant does. Everything after that is maintenance 🌿

Happy Memorial Day weekend. Remember to take your time and enjoy the outdoors.

This week around The Farm.

Spot for our summer camps are still available! Don’t miss your chance to join us for hands-on learning, outdoor adventure, and memories that last a lifetime.

Cooking Like a Chef Camp - Session 1 (Ages 9 – 14)
June 9 – 11 | 8AM - 2PM
https://florencecounty4hcookinglikeachefcamp2026_1.eventbrite.com

Cooking Like a Chef Camp - Session 2 (Ages 9 – 14)
June 23 – 25 | 8AM - 2PM
https://florencecounty4hcookinglikeachefcamp2026_2.eventbrite.com

Mini Clover Explorers Camp (Ages 5 – 😎
June 23 – 25 | 9AM - 1PM
https://florencecounty4hminicloverexplorerscamp2026.eventbrite.com

4-H2O Camp (Ages 9 – 13)
July 23 – 25 | 8AM - 3PM
https://florencecounty4h2Ocamp2026.eventbrite.com

Spots fill quickly—register today to secure your child’s place! If you have any questions, please reach out.

We can’t wait for a summer of learning and adventure! 🍀

Evening walk through the garden.

Huge win for South Carolina agriculture this week. Today, Governor McMaster signed the “Roadside Market Bill” into law.

This legislation exempts roadside markets from municipal and county codes, permitting requirements, and stormwater regulations — making it easier and more affordable for farmers to open markets on their farms and sell directly to the communities they serve.

This is a major step forward for local agriculture, small family farms, and consumers who want greater access to fresh South Carolina-grown products.

Thank you to my co-sponsors, my colleagues in the General Assembly who supported this bill, and the county and municipal associations for working with me throughout the process to strengthen this legislation and get it across the finish line.

Applications are open for the 2026 Learn to Farm Classroom Mini-Grants! This program provides funding to support classroom project that enhance students' understanding of agriculture, farming and food systems.

This year, the SCFB Young Farmers and Ranchers are expanding the program to offer two $500 mini-grants per SC Farm Bureau district. That means we'll award eight mini-grants across the state!

Application deadline is September 7, 2026. Learn more and apply online: www.scfb.org/mini-grant 🌱