Vegetable Gardening in Ohio

There was a time when everyone who had the space to do it raised a vegetable garden. If it wasn't for the gardens and the food canned or preserved in the summer many would not have it through the winters. Now today in the world we live in it is much easier to go to the local grocery store and buy what you want. There are still some who raise their own food and as any Ohio gardener will tell you not only does home grown fruits and vegetables taste better then any store bought one it also saves them money all year long. Some even make a profit buy having roadside stands selling their home grown veggies and fruits.

It doesn't take a lot of money to grow your own garden. Nothing makes you feel better then to see the results of your work. Biting into a home grown tomato or cucumber is extremely satisfying knowing you raised it and that their is nothing artificial or no pesticides and that what your about to feed your family is completely safe is the best feeling ever.

If your garden is big enough and you raised enough you will probably have more then what you can eat. It will come in quicker then your family can possibly eat it. So you can preserve it buy canning, drying or freezing. Then you can enjoy your harvest all year long.

When planning your garden, it is important to ask a few basic questions: Who will be doing the work? Will the garden be a group project with family members or friends who will willingly work through the season, or will you be handling the hoe alone, in between camping and swimming? Remember, a small weed-free garden will produce more than a large, weedy, messy one.

What do you and your family like to eat? Make a list of your family's favorite vegetables ranked in order of preference. This can be a useful guide in deciding how much of each crop to plant. Succes¬sive plantings of certain crops, such as beans, will give a longer harvest period and increase your yield.

Vegetables grow best in a level area with loose, well-drained soil that receives at least 8 hours of sunlight each day. Choose a spot near your home so it is convenient to work in the garden when you have time. Avoid planting near trees and shrubs. They compete for nutrients, water and light. Do not to plant related vegetables in the same location in the garden more often than once in 3 years Rotation prevents the buildup of insects and disease.

More than 40 kinds of vegetables can be grown in Ohio. Such as lettuce, spinach, chard, kale, squash, peas, beans, carrots, beets, turnips, parsnips, radishes, tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, onions, hot peppers, green peppers and many more also fruits such as watermelon and cantaloupe.

Selecting what to grow depends on a variety of preferences, such as flavor, available space, nutritional value or how well the crop cans or freezes. Here is a list of easy-to-grow crops for the beginning vegetable gardener to consider: asparagus, beets, bush beans, cabbage, carrots, leaf lettuce, New Zealand spinach, onions, leeks, peppers, summer squash, sweet potatoes and tomatoes.

If you have a little space in your yard and a little extra time why not plant a garden. It will help relax you on a stressful day and I know you enjoy eating what you have grown.