OSU Extension. Ohio gardening calendar helps with knowing when to plant

Connie Smith, Special to the Eagle-Gazette

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Vegetable gardening for the first time? Want to know when to plant? The Ohio Gardening Calendar is a very helpful tool to have in your gardening toolbox. The Gardening Calendar can be found at OSU Extension -Fairfield County website at https://fairfield.osu.edu/.

For example, if you are wondering what you could plant in your garden now the OSU Garden Calendar will give you that information. After March 15, you could have planted peas, radishes, spinach and turnips as well as asparagus and onion sets. After March 25, it is time to get those potatoes in the ground. Just remember you cannot plant in wet soils. You can begin working in the garden when the moisture content of the soil is such that the soil “shatters” when turned. When moisture conditions are right, soil crumbles freely. Also, soil temperature is more important than air temperature when planting seeds. Cool-season vegetables require soil temperatures above 55 degrees. Warm-season vegetables require soil temperatures above 75 degrees.

Pre-Emergence Weed Control In Landscape Beds

Now is a great time to apply pre-emergent herbicide to flower beds if you prepare the bed first. You need to make sure all the perennial and annual broadleaf weeds and grass weeds are removed before applying pre-emergent.

Pre-emergent herbicides are a great way to cut down on the amount of many annual and perennial weed seeds in flower beds. Pre-emergent herbicides control a variety of weeds but not all weeds. Because pre-emergent herbicide will not control weeds currently growing in the beds, weeds and grass must be removedWarmer soils speed germination before pre-emergent application. Pre-emergent prevents weed seeds from growing and maturing by inhibiting the root system development of the young weed seedling. This kills it before it matures.

There are several brands of pre-emergent on the market including: trifluralin (Preen®), DCPA (Dacthal®), oryzalin (Surflan®), pendimethalin (Halts®) and isoxaben (Gallery®).

In all cases, careful reading of the herbicide label is important, since not all herbicides can be used among all ornamental plants and certain herbicides require special application techniques. In fact, some herbicides, particularly those for vegetables, may require a period of time post-planting before application. Therefore, clean the beds up first and apply at the proper time.

Using pre-emergent herbicides is not a one and done treatment. It needs to be reapplied about every 3 months, depending on the product. If mulch is going to be used and annuals are planted, a pre-emergent application should be done after mulching. Consider applying one pre-emergent treatment at the end of March or the beginning of April, one in June after mulching, and another at the end of September or beginning of October to control winter annuals. It is best right before a rain. So now it is activated and protecting my flower beds from pesky little weed seeds that could be lurking in the soil. It is very important to water in pre-emergent herbicide once applied as this activates it.

Keep in mind that once pre-emergent herbicides are applied and watered in, they create a barrier thus preventing weed growth; if that barrier is disturbed from digging holes to plant or raking, the product will no longer be effective. Also, if annuals are started from direct seeding in the garden, avoid using pre-emergent herbicide in those areas. This would also include any perennials that you want to reseed and spread in your garden.

Source: Carri Jagger- OSU Extension -Morrow County

Upcoming events

Pesticide Testing Opportunity in Fairfield County: Wanting to take a Pesticide Test or adding a category to your existing pesticide license? The Ohio Department of Agriculture will be hosting a Pesticide and Fertilizer testing opportunity in the Fairfield County Ag Center Conference Room beginning promptly at 11 a.m. April 14.

Call OSU Extension in Fairfield County for details at 740-653-5419.

Cooking Under Pressure Mastering the Electric Pressure Cooker: It will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. April 14, at the Baltimore Branch Library 205 E Market St., Baltimore. Discover the essentials of electric pressure cooking. Learn how to save time and money while creating delicious, home-cooked meals with ease.

This class covers:

Understanding the parts and functions of your electric pressure cookerNavigating settings and what they meanKey safety tips and proper cleaning techniquesSmart meal planning strategiesTried-and-true recipes to get you started