A NEW EDUCATIONAL DEMONSTRATION GARDEN IS COMING TO LIFE!

The Clermont County Master Gardeners are excited to kick off the summer vegetable gardening season with a new and improved demonstration garden! This garden, located at the Clermont County Fairgrounds, is designed to teach and inspire everyone, regardless of gardening experience. Our hope and mission are that this space will be more than just a garden — it will be an educational hub where we can all learn together.

What did we do to prepare?

Construction: We began by working with a local contractor to design and construct a variety of raised beds. Our goal was to create a space that could showcase different gardening techniques while being accessible and educational for visitors of all ages. The beds vary in shape and height to demonstrate the versatility of raised-bed gardening and to accommodate a wide range of plants and users. 

Filling with Quality Soil: We took special care in choosing the right soil blend for our raised beds. A healthy mix of compost and topsoil ensures that our plants will have the nutrients they need from day one. Good soil is the foundation of any successful garden.  (Yes, soil—not dirt! Soil is alive with nutrients and microorganisms that plants need to thrive.)

Adding Support Structures: We installed simple fencing and trellises within some of the beds to support climbing plants like beans and cucumbers. These structures not only help vertical growers thrive but also make the most of limited space. As the garden grows, these trellises will be full of green life.

Ready for Learning and Growing: With the beds filled, the soil in place, and trellising installed, our demonstration garden was ready to plant.  You can find a variety of local favorites, such as tomatoes, peppers, beans, and cucumbers, to name a few.

This is a shared public space where we welcome visitors of all ages and gardening backgrounds. We’re excited about this growing season and even more excited to share it with our community. Stay tuned for more updates!

Potager Article #17

A series of articles presented by Candy Horton, an OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

I went out into the garden today in between the rain showers because I wanted to check on the things I have growing in there.  About a month ago, I planted a row of radishes, spinach, and lettuce.  I have two sets of radishes planted, 1 row of lettuce, spinach, carrots, bush beans, and three buckets with potatoes all planted.  The radishes, spinach, and lettuce are all doing pretty well.  A little over a week ago, I had to scrap the first plantings of lettuce and spinach as they didn’t do very well at all, but the first radishes are fantastic.  I should be able to start harvesting those soon.  The new rows of spinach and lettuce have maybe 1 or 2 little seedlings popping up already.  I noticed today that I do have some sprouts showing in the potato buckets, but they are not very high, and I will need to work on those in the next few days.

I wanted to try something a little bit different this year.  With the walking paths in the garden, I knew that I would lose some planting spaces, so I decided to add some back into the garden through a different way of gardening, through container gardening.  I bought several plastic pots that I will be adding some herbs to, which I will keep on the back porch to keep them close to the kitchen.  I also bought some colorful rubber feeding/water buckets from the local farm store and have started planting potatoes in them.  I bought what I believe will be enough seed potatoes to start a bucket of potatoes each month through the end of September or the first of October.  Once they all start getting to the point of needing to be harvested, I’m hoping that I will be able to start harvesting 3 buckets of potatoes each month, all the way through to December.  I have three different varieties, and I would really be interested to see if I could have fresh potatoes for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

When I purchased the buckets, I sat down one day and drilled holes in the bottom of the buckets.  I have them set up on scrap wood blocks to allow really good drainage.  I then filled the bucket with about 6” of good garden soil, added the seed potatoes, and covered them with about 3” of soil.  As the plants grow, I will continue to add soil at the base of the plant to encourage it to grow more potatoes and give me a larger crop.  I’m hoping that I won’t run out of seed potatoes before the end of the season.  Because we are limited on when seed potatoes are available, I have to guess at how much I will need to keep planting and harvesting all year.  I will need to do this with a lot of my vegetable plants.  At the end of the year, I will put the soil from the buckets into the compost bin and clean and disinfect the buckets to be used again next year.

While I was out in the garden about a month ago, I checked on the leaf mulch that I had started, and it looks fantastic.  There are so many worms and healthy critters in that pile that I’m so excited.  I’m adding this compost to each of my beds as I get them cleaned out and seeds or plants planted.  I also turned the compost bin from the first one into the second one.  That pile is doing really well and will create a really nice batch of compost to add to the beds this fall.  Starting this fall, if I continue with the process of composting that I have done, I will have a continual supply of really healthy, natural compost to add to the garden beds.   I have really noticed a difference in the beds that I have been adding compost to regarding the soil health.  It’s easier to work, looser, and a lot more worms and other soil life.  I started with soil that was very heavy in clay, and this will be the third summer since starting to add the leaf compost to the beds.  I believe that it is making a big difference to the garden beds.  I have added a couple of links below that will help with container gardening or provide more information about growing your garden.  Talk with you soon.

No Garden? No Problem! – Container Gardening Basics | Growing Franklin (osu.edu)

Get Your Garden On | Victory Gardens – Let’s Grow Ohio! (osu.edu)

Potager Article #16

Potager Article #16
A series of articles presented by Candy Horton, an OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

As the weather has started to get warmer, I have been able to get out into the garden to start cleaning up. I don’t think it will take as long to get it all back into order as I feared it would. The rain has put almost all of my work in the garden on hold, so I have switched up my plans. Before all of the rain, I was able to plant radishes, cold-weather lettuce, and spinach in the raised feeder bed. I now have tiny little seedlings poking their leaves up through the soil. With the temperatures that we are experiencing, these plants are slow-growing, but they are growing. I will get out in the garden this week to plant more spinach, lettuce, and radishes. I have been able to clean out the cold frame, and I will get some seeds into it. I’m going to try some carrots to see how they will do. I also have another bed cleaned out and ready, so as soon as it dries out a bit more, I will plant bush and pole bean seeds in that spot.

There are several nurseries open in my area, so I have picked up seed potatoes, asparagus roots, strawberry plants, and onion sets. I will be adding the additional strawberry plants to the bare spaces in the strawberry bed. Once I get those planted, I will put some straw on them to keep them protected from the cooler temperatures. I will be starting a new asparagus bed because when I moved the asparagus the previous fall, I don’t think they survived the move. I have been debating whether I should give the transplanted asparagus another year to see if they do better, but I will clear that bed at the end of this year if they don’t. I am also going to try a spring crop of garlic to see if I can get two crops per year rather than just one. If the weather holds, I am hoping to get a lot of those things done this week.

Another thing that I am going to be adding to the garden this next week is container gardens. I purchased some rubber buckets that are about 17 gallons in size that I will be using to plant potatoes. I have three different kinds of potatoes, and I have 12 buckets. I want to plant a different kind of potato in each bucket. Then, in a month, I will plant seed potatoes in three more buckets until I have used all of the buckets. My thought is that by the time I get to the third or fourth set of buckets, my first potatoes will be ready for harvest, and about every month after that, I will be harvesting potatoes. I want to see if I can harvest potatoes to use in either my Thanksgiving dinner or even my Christmas celebration in December. I will have to buy all of my seed potatoes now, but I think if I keep them in a cool, dry place, it will work. I will let you know.

When I was out in the garden before all of the rain, I moved last year’s compost pile into the next bin. I was so excited to see that it has been decomposing really well. This fall or early spring, I will have a really good batch of compost to use in the beds. I have also started my new batch and will continue to add to it all year. Once the season is over, I will leave it be until next spring. As I have been working in my garden beds, I have noticed that after a year of natural materials being added back into my garden, I’m starting to find a lot of worms in the garden soil. I was really worried about that and had considered and even planned for a worm farm. However, taking on the idea that by amending and adding healthy nutrients to the soil, the soil will become healthy and be a wonderful place to grow food for my family.

I have started looking over the middle section of the garden. I have found a very small plastic pond liner that I will order and dig out a space for. I have the plans all set for the insect hotels, and I have their location determined.

2025 Southwest Ohio Perennial School

Join Us for the 31st Southwest Ohio Perennial School!

📅 Date: April 10, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM (Doors open at 8:00 AM)
📍 Location: Clermont County Fairgrounds, 4-H Hall
1000 Locust Street, Owensville, Ohio 45160

💰 Cost: $50

🌱 Registration is now open! The registration form is attached.

Join us for a day of expert insights, gardening inspiration, and networking with fellow plant enthusiasts. Our lineup of speakers includes:

🌿 Carol Trosset (Hamilton County MGV & Author)Cultivating Woodland Wildflowers
Discover the diverse wildflowers of southern Ohio’s forests and their role in the ecosystem. Dr. Trosset will share insights from her family’s woodland restoration project and discuss the impact of climate change on blooming cycles.

💧 Eugene Braig (OSU Program Director, Aquatic Ecosystems)Ponds and Pond-Loving Plants
Explore wetland and aquatic species that thrive in and around ponds, their benefits, and invasive species to avoid.

🌸 Brian Grubb (Educator, University of Cincinnati)Herbaceous Ornamentals at UC
Gain insights into the teaching and study of herbaceous ornamentals at UC, including student projects from the past three years.

🍇 Ryan Slaughter (OSU Extension Educator, Ross County)Getting Started with Brambles
Learn how to grow blackberries and raspberries, covering site selection, soil preparation, planting, trellising, and pruning.

🌼 Jenny Stoneking (OSU Extension Educator, Adams County)Year-Round Color with Perennials
Discover how to design a perennial garden that showcases vibrant color in every season, even in winter!

For more information, visit clermont.osu.edu or contact neal.331@osu.edu.

Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your gardening knowledge and connect with fellow enthusiasts! 🌿✨

Registration Form

March Wednesday Women in Ag Webinar

Join us on March 5th at 10:30 am to learn more about Native Plants and how to incorporate them into your landscape. Amanda Bennett, ANR OSU Extension Educator in Miami County, will be our presenter.

Register for the entire series using this link one time. go.osu.edu/wiawednesdaywebinars2025 

March 2025 WIAWW Flyer

Potager Article #15

A series of articles presented by Candy Horton, an OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

I know it’s been a while since I last shared with you.  I want to apologize for that.  Life doesn’t always go the way we think it should, and it can take a little bit of time to come back from those rough times.  I’m sorry for the break.

Because of the break, my garden has become disrupted and was put on hold.  It’s frustrating, but sometimes, we need to rest before taking the next step in a project.  It was such a nice day yesterday. I spent some time in the garden checking to see how much work would need to be done to clean up the garden.  Because of the way I had set up the garden with the raised beds and mulch walkways, it’s not that bad, and I think that with a good two weeks of working there, I will be back in business.   When I last wrote, I finished up the first third of the garden.  I have a nice cold frame, 2 large raised beds, 2 smaller ones, 3 compost bins, and a shallow raised bed.   I started to work on the second section, which is the resting spot in the garden.  It will have a water feature, insect hotels, tables, and chairs to enjoy the garden.   I have found about 4 or 5 unique birdhouses that I want to put on a post to attract the birds.  I have several colorful pots to plant blueberry bushes or beautiful flowers to attract pollinators.   Just thinking about it feels very peaceful.

I had thought that I would put a worm farm in this area until recently when I was listening to a gardening podcast on organic gardening; the subject was healthy soil.  The instructor was teaching what healthy soil looks like, what difference it makes in your garden, and the chain reactions to having healthy soil.  Part of the discussion brought about the idea of adding worms or a worm farm into the garden.  The instructor made a comment that really stuck with me and changed my mind about having a worm farm in this middle section.  The comment he made focused on the idea that if our soil is healthy, then we don’t need to bring in worms because they will be naturally attracted to space.   I realized that he was right; a lot of my garden problems would not be an issue if my soil were a healthy, well-rounded environment.  It all starts with the soil.

Focusing on soil health, there’s a lot that I can do at this time. If the soil is not frozen, I could take a soil sample from the garden and take it to my local OSU Extension office to have it tested so I know and understand what condition my soil is in now. I will then know exactly what will be needed to get my soil healthy. I can start adding manure, compost, or leaf mulch to help make my soil as healthy as possible.

I have to understand that it will take several years to get it where I want it and that I will need to continually be mindful of the health of my soil and amend it as needed to keep it healthy.  As the day’s weather permits, I could start to clean out the garden.  I don’t want to chop up the debris but move it to my compost bins or a brush pile.  That way, the eggs and insects nesting in the leaves and weeds won’t be disturbed and can hatch out when they are ready, but I can get the garden prepared to start planting.

I have already been looking in the seed catalogs and am really excited to try some new seeds and plants.  We will talk more about that next time.

I have added a link to an article written by a team of professionals from The Ohio State University that will help you understand the importance of soil health, how to test it, and where to get it tested.

 

Soil Testing for Ohio Lawns, Landscapes, Fruit Crops, and Vegetable Gardens | Ohioline (osu.edu)

Written by: Joe Boggs, Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hamilton County

Cindy Meyer, Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Butler County

Gary Gao, Small-Fruit Extension Specialist, OSU South Centers

 Jim Chatfield, Extension Specialist, Agriculture, and Natural Resources

2025 Spring Seminars

Are you receiving seed catalogs? It’s time to start planning for your garden. Join us as we discuss ways to prepare for the 2025 gardening season.
RSVP to save your spot by scanning the QR Code or calling the office at 513-732-7070 or email Burdsall.9@osu.edu

Advanced Tree ID

Registration is open for the Advanced Winter Tree ID class.  In this day-long class, spend time with samples and, if weather permits, outdoors.

This class will be held on Feb. 18th at the Fairfield County Extension office.  The deadline to register is 2/12.

Can you identify trees with leaves? What about without leaves? Identifying trees in winter can be a real challenge. This is an advanced class for individuals who are familiar with using dichotomous keys.

This class begins indoors with some introductory identification clues and samples. A guide for identifying trees by fruit and twigs will be utilized for a major portion of the class. The afternoon portion of the class may be outside, depending on the weather and time.

Registration is $40 and includes lunch and materials.

Register here

Fruit School

Growing apples in the home garden | UMN Extension

November 7, 2024

Growing Raspberries: Macy Deatty
Apple Trees: Brooks Warner
Orchards: Kane Lewis
Soil Testing: Leeoria Willis
Ginseng: Brooks Warner
Container Gardening with Fruit: Ryan Slaughter

Learn more here or visit montgomery.osu.edu

Montgomery County Fruit School Speakers

Event flyer