How is South Carolina climate compared to Florida climate?

[onur]

Hi All

I want to have some insight on South Carolina's climate compared to Florida's. Do any sub-tropical fruit trees grow there without winter protection. Would guava trees do fine in winters without protection? Also, Is S. Carolina cooler and less humid than Florida?

Thanks.

[growinginphoenix]

I don't know much about either state, but it matters a lot where in Florida and probably also where in South Carolina. There is a generic comparison of their climates here: https://weatherspark.com/compare/y/17874~15552~18622/Comparison-of-the-Average-Weather-in-Columbia-Tallahassee-and-Miami

[roblack]

Summers can be very similar. Winters are quite different. You actually get marked seasonal changes in NC. 

[onur]

I don't know much about either state, but it matters a lot where in Florida and probably also where in South Carolina. There is a generic comparison of their climates here: https://weatherspark.com/compare/y/17874~15552~18622/Comparison-of-the-Average-Weather-in-Columbia-Tallahassee-and-Miami

Thank you. It's been quite helpful.

[onur]

Summers can be very similar. Winters are quite different. You actually get marked seasonal changes in NC.

Does humidity prevail longer and higher during hot season in S.Carolina like Florida too? Did you mean you feel seasons changing drastically starting from North Carolina by "You actually get marked seasonal changes in NC." ?  Thank you.

[kapps]

There is a lot of difference just within Florida. In coastal south/central Florida, you don’t get nearly as many 95+ degree days as you do in Orlando. Living on the west side of Jacksonville could have summer days that are 100 and winter that are 25. It seems similar all the way up the coast. GA, SC, NC can all get crazy hot and humid in the summer if you are inland.

[Jaboticaba45]

South carolina = can't grow any tropicals. Even zone 9a in the south is such a bad zone to grow in as it's too cold for tropicals and potentially not enough chill hours for the good stonefruits (although there are always exceptions)
North FL = can't grow any tropicals
central and south FL is when options start to open up.

[Galatians522]

Guava will not grow in South Carolina without protection. Even hardy citrus needs protection there. If I lived in SC I would be growing fire blight resistant pears, select Chickisaw plums, Muscadines, Rabbit Eye blueberries, Peaches, Chinese Jujube, Pecans, Paw Paw, Blackberries, Che, and maybe a satsuma (but it would definitely need protection).

[onur]

There is a lot of difference just within Florida. In coastal south/central Florida, you don’t get nearly as many 95+ degree days as you do in Orlando. Living on the west side of Jacksonville could have summer days that are 100 and winter that are 25. It seems similar all the way up the coast. GA, SC, NC can all get crazy hot and humid in the summer if you are inland.

I see. All because GA, SC, NC are situated in the north of FL, you can't really get away from terrible summer humidity. And it is even worse than South FL in general...  Is muggy season in GA, SC, NC at least shorter?

[Jaboticaba45]

There is a lot of difference just within Florida. In coastal south/central Florida, you don’t get nearly as many 95+ degree days as you do in Orlando. Living on the west side of Jacksonville could have summer days that are 100 and winter that are 25. It seems similar all the way up the coast. GA, SC, NC can all get crazy hot and humid in the summer if you are inland.

I see. All because GA, SC, NC are situated in the north of FL, you can't really get away from terrible summer humidity. And it is even worse than South FL in general...  Is muggy season in GA, SC, NC at least shorter?

Maybe,
but the big thing to worry about is the arctic blasts that come and leave the area sub 20f.
tough to grow stuff in that weather!

[onur]

There is a lot of difference just within Florida. In coastal south/central Florida, you don’t get nearly as many 95+ degree days as you do in Orlando. Living on the west side of Jacksonville could have summer days that are 100 and winter that are 25. It seems similar all the way up the coast. GA, SC, NC can all get crazy hot and humid in the summer if you are inland.

I see. All because GA, SC, NC are situated in the north of FL, you can't really get away from terrible summer humidity. And it is even worse than South FL in general...  Is muggy season in GA, SC, NC at least shorter?

Maybe,
but the big thing to worry about is the arctic blasts that come and leave the area sub 20f.
tough to grow stuff in that weather!

So many different factors determining climates rather than latitude...

[Coconut Cream]

South Carolina is probably more similar to New Jersey than Florida, at least as far as climate. Florida will have more Jets fans though.

[johnb51]

Guava will not grow in South Carolina without protection. Even hardy citrus needs protection there. If I lived in SC I would be growing fire blight resistant pears, select Chickisaw plums, Muscadines, Rabbit Eye blueberries, Peaches, Chinese Jujube, Pecans, Paw Paw, Blackberries, Che, and maybe a satsuma (but it would definitely need protection).

Yup.  Forget about mangos or avocados.

[Rain]

I'm in Tallahassee. I've learn the hard way that simply covering up the trees wasnt enough to keep them alive. I lose 90% of my tropical fruits trees last winter. This year, I learn that I need to put christmas lights around them for extra heat to keep them warm underneath the plant covers. I'm already preparing for this winter. You also have to keep in mind that you cannot let the trees grow too big or you'll have a hard time covering them.

[bussone]

Hi All

I want to have some insight on South Carolina's climate compared to Florida's. Do any sub-tropical fruit trees grow there without winter protection. Would guava trees do fine in winters without protection? Also, Is S. Carolina cooler and less humid than Florida?

Thanks.

Where in South Carolina compared to where in Florida?

Coastal SC is a lot like coastal northern Florida. But NW South Carolina is nothing like southern Florida.

Besides latitude, SC's highest point is 3,550 ft (1080 m). Florida's highest point is 345 ft (105 m).

[onur]

Guava will not grow in South Carolina without protection. Even hardy citrus needs protection there. If I lived in SC I would be growing fire blight resistant pears, select Chickisaw plums, Muscadines, Rabbit Eye blueberries, Peaches, Chinese Jujube, Pecans, Paw Paw, Blackberries, Che, and maybe a satsuma (but it would definitely need protection).

Wow not even citrus! Probably, figs, mulberries, almonds and pomegranates would grow there.

[onur]

South Carolina is probably more similar to New Jersey than Florida, at least as far as climate. Florida will have more Jets fans though.

[onur]

Guava will not grow in South Carolina without protection. Even hardy citrus needs protection there. If I lived in SC I would be growing fire blight resistant pears, select Chickisaw plums, Muscadines, Rabbit Eye blueberries, Peaches, Chinese Jujube, Pecans, Paw Paw, Blackberries, Che, and maybe a satsuma (but it would definitely need protection).

Yup.  Forget about mangos or avocados.

I know. I am having fruits from passion fruits and jabuticabas in NJ by keeping them inside the house in winters.

[onur]

I'm in Tallahassee. I've learn the hard way that simply covering up the trees wasnt enough to keep them alive. I lose 90% of my tropical fruits trees last winter. This year, I learn that I need to put christmas lights around them for extra heat to keep them warm underneath the plant covers. I'm already preparing for this winter. You also have to keep in mind that you cannot let the trees grow too big or you'll have a hard time covering them.

I agree. We should also control our desires and keep only a few kinds of trees that we like the most. But, unfortunately, it is not going that way...

[Galatians522]

Guava will not grow in South Carolina without protection. Even hardy citrus needs protection there. If I lived in SC I would be growing fire blight resistant pears, select Chickisaw plums, Muscadines, Rabbit Eye blueberries, Peaches, Chinese Jujube, Pecans, Paw Paw, Blackberries, Che, and maybe a satsuma (but it would definitely need protection).

Wow not even citrus! Probably, figs, mulberries, almonds and pomegranates would grow there.

Persimmons and mulberries should work well, too. Figs, Pomegranites, and particularly Almonds might have disease issues but with a little extra care they could probably be grown.

[onur]

Hi All

I want to have some insight on South Carolina's climate compared to Florida's. Do any sub-tropical fruit trees grow there without winter protection. Would guava trees do fine in winters without protection? Also, Is S. Carolina cooler and less humid than Florida?

Thanks.

Where in South Carolina compared to where in Florida?

Coastal SC is a lot like coastal northern Florida. But NW South Carolina is nothing like southern Florida.

Besides latitude, SC's highest point is 3,550 ft (1080 m). Florida's highest point is 345 ft (105 m).

Say..., Columbia compared to Orlando. Yeah I get it. It's not that simple. SC has both mountains and coastline. There might be different climates even within a city...

[onur]

Guava will not grow in South Carolina without protection. Even hardy citrus needs protection there. If I lived in SC I would be growing fire blight resistant pears, select Chickisaw plums, Muscadines, Rabbit Eye blueberries, Peaches, Chinese Jujube, Pecans, Paw Paw, Blackberries, Che, and maybe a satsuma (but it would definitely need protection).

Wow not even citrus! Probably, figs, mulberries, almonds and pomegranates would grow there.

Persimmons and mulberries should work well, too. Figs, Pomegranites, and particularly Almonds might have disease issues but with a little extra care they could probably be grown.

Is Che a tasty fruit? Is it worth growing?

[Galatians522]

I actually have not had the chance to try Che, yet. We had a tree here that seemed to grow and bloom fine. Unfortunately, it was a male and got ripped out.

[John Travis]

I live just north of Orlando and am in a bit of a micro climate so I think I've got slightly better luck with a lot of my tropicals like Mango and Jackfruit. We can usually string together enough years to get trees big enough that the short freezing periods won't kill them, or cold weather can be managed with large mulch mounds.     I don't think there is a perfect rule for it, but I think that once you get north of Sanford FL you really shouldn't expect consistent results with tropicals without significant protection. I know there are people in Ocala and further north doing it, but I think the protection effort is significant.

 I think once you hit SC you are well outside of tropicals territory. You might be able to grow some subtropicals like jaboticaba which can deal with lower temps, but I'd probably focus on different plants if I was living up there or get a large greenhouse to grow in.

[Nick C]

Guava will not grow in South Carolina without protection. Even hardy citrus needs protection there. If I lived in SC I would be growing fire blight resistant pears, select Chickisaw plums, Muscadines, Rabbit Eye blueberries, Peaches, Chinese Jujube, Pecans, Paw Paw, Blackberries, Che, and maybe a satsuma (but it would definitely need protection).

Wow not even citrus! Probably, figs, mulberries, almonds and pomegranates would grow there.

Persimmons and mulberries should work well, too. Figs, Pomegranites, and particularly Almonds might have disease issues but with a little extra care they could probably be grown.

Is Che a tasty fruit? Is it worth growing?

Got to try my first che fruit this year. They’re nothing crazy kinda taste like watermelon