Spectrum: Mercer County OSU Extension Shares Spring Gardening Tips and Drought Update

Mercer County OSU Extension Educator Ryan McMichael joined Spectrum with host Kevin Sandler to talk about early spring gardening, a new Fruit Gardening 101 series, seed starting tips for vegetable gardens, and why the region can still be considered in drought conditions even with recent rainfall.

Fruit Gardening 101 Series Runs Wednesdays in March

McMichael said OSU Extension is hosting a first time Fruit Gardening 101 series, with free classes every Wednesday evening in March at the Mercer County Ag Center.

The series is designed as an introduction to growing specific fruits, with a different focus each week. The first session covered strawberries, including planting and care techniques, pests and diseases, and cultivar selection.

Upcoming sessions will cover apples, brambles, and grapes. McMichael explained brambles are raspberries and blackberries, and said the brambles program will feature Ohio’s small fruit specialist, Dr. Gary Gao.

Residents can attend the full series or only the topics that interest them.

Tree Seedling Sale Includes Bare Root Strawberries

During the strawberries session, McMichael highlighted an option many people did not know about. Mercer County Soil and Water’s tree seedling sale includes bare root strawberry packs that residents can purchase. He said several attendees planned to contact Soil and Water to place orders after learning about the opportunity.

Vegetable Seed Starting Tips for March

McMichael said early March is a great time to start certain vegetables indoors for later transplanting into gardens, especially for people itching to begin the growing season while the weather is still cold.

He recommended starting plants like tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, cabbage, and other vegetables that perform better when transplanted. He noted crops like carrots, peas, and green beans are typically direct seeded into the garden instead.

McMichael said seed starting does not require an elaborate grow light system if a home has a good south facing window, but growers should watch for seedlings stretching toward light and becoming “leggy.” He said some gardeners can move seedlings outside during the day when temperatures are suitable and bring them back inside later.

He also suggested using a soilless seed starting mix such as a blend of peat moss and perlite, sometimes with vermiculite, and said fertilizers are not usually needed early because seedlings draw initial energy from the seed. As seedlings develop true leaves later, fertilizer may become more important if plants have not yet been transplanted outside.

McMichael added that common early issues for new gardeners include planting too deep, overwatering, and not meeting light requirements. He encouraged people to contact the OSU Extension office with questions.

Seed Giveaway Program Starts in April

McMichael said OSU Extension plans to begin a garden giveaway seed program in early April. He said residents will be able to stop into the office for seed packets, including items like lettuce, carrots, and cucumbers, which he described as easy options for home gardeners.

Is It Too Soon to Plant Flowers

During the program, McMichael answered a listener question about flower planting. He said starting seeds indoors is fine now, but planting annual flowers outdoors is still early due to wet conditions and lingering cold.

He said pansies are among the more frost tolerant flowers that could be possible within the next few weeks. Petunias can handle some colder temperatures as well. For more sensitive annuals like geraniums, McMichael said many gardeners wait until the risk of frost has passed, which he described as typically around late April or early May in the area, depending on weather.

He said perennials will begin showing up at nurseries as greenhouse stock continues to develop in the coming weeks.

Why Drought Can Continue Even With Rain

McMichael also addressed a common question. How can the region still be considered in drought when it is raining and there is standing water in fields.

He said drought classifications are based on long term precipitation trends, not short periods of rainfall. McMichael said the region is still in a rainfall deficit over an extended period, explaining that rainfall has been below normal since around August.

He said drought monitor maps show Mercer County ranges from D1 to D3 drought, while Van Wert County is listed as D3. Auglaize County ranges from D0 to D3.

McMichael said recent rain will help, but the region will need continued moisture over time to improve conditions. He added that outlooks indicate drought may persist through March, though improvements are expected.