When to Sow Autumn Spinach in Ohio
In central Ohio, sow spinach for spring about two to three weeks before the last frost, which falls between May 5 and May 15 in zone 6a, so seed goes in…
Gardening in Ohio
Everything we have worked out for Ohio: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Columbus, the last spring freeze runs May 5 to May 15 and the first fall freeze runs October 5 to October 15, USDA zones 5b-6b, 3,783 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 21.8 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Ohio: lawn care, soil and amendments, watering, flowers and borders and the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
Will Spinach Bolt Early in Ohio?
Yes, spinach will bolt early in most of Ohio. The state’s summer days grow long enough on their own to push the plant into flower, and that daylight…
Will Ohio Soil Hold an Asparagus Bed for Fifteen Years?
Ohio’s answer is yes, with a caveat that matters more than the state itself: asparagus doesn’t ask for rich ground or a particular pH, it asks for ground…
When to Plant Asparagus Crowns in Ohio
Early spring is the answer, and in Ohio that means working around the state’s last frost window, which lands somewhere between May 5 and May 15 in zone 6a.
Growing Sweet Corn in Ohio: Will It Ripen?
Yes, sweet corn ripens reliably across Ohio’s zone 6a growing season, but the answer hinges on one detail gardeners often skip: soil temperature, not the…
Growing Asparagus in Ohio: Fifteen Years in One Spot
Ohio’s most common soil, the Miamian series, drains well enough for asparagus, which is the one soil trait this crop actually demands.
When to Sow Pumpkins in Ohio
In Ohio’s zone 6a, pumpkin flowers need to open by late August at the latest to leave enough time to ripen before the first fall frost.
Will Pumpkins Ripen Before Frost in Ohio?
Yes, but the timing is tight. In Ohio’s zone 6a, first fall frost typically lands between October 5 and October 15, and pumpkins need 45 to 55 days from…
When to Sow Parsnips in Ohio
Sow parsnip seed directly in the ground two to three weeks before Ohio’s last spring frost, which lands between May 5 and May 15 across the state’s zone…
Will Parsnips Sweeten in Ohio?
Yes, parsnips will sweeten in Ohio. The state’s winters deliver the extended stretch of frosty weather this root crop needs to convert stored starch into…