Virgin garden plot - Ask Extension
A friend gifted me with a 1/20 acre garden plot that had been some combo of wildflower/weeds/prairie. He tilled the soil some to pull up the plants/ro...
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Virgin garden plot #854159
Asked October 27, 2023, 8:07 AM EDT
A friend gifted me with a 1/20 acre garden plot that had been some combo of wildflower/weeds/prairie. He tilled the soil some to pull up the plants/roots. Are there things I should be doing to the garden this time of year to prepare it for spring planting?
Franklin County Ohio
Expert Response
HI Lindsay,
Thank you for your gardening question. Before I answer can I ask what you plan on doing with the space? Are you keeping it a prairie/wildflowers, are you wanting to grow vegetables?
Thank you for your gardening question. Before I answer can I ask what you plan on doing with the space? Are you keeping it a prairie/wildflowers, are you wanting to grow vegetables?
Woops, that is indeed an important bit of info I forgot. I plan on doing mostly vegetables, but will also be doing some flowers to promote happy pollinators.
Yikes I am so sorry Lindsay you responded so quickly and I missed the email.
Thank you for the added information. Winter is a great time to plan the spring garden and if you want to do crops like spinach, arugula etc it will be nice to have the garden ready early. Plan the garden- what plants you will be starting from seed what plants you will be buying. When to start them etc.
I have included more information with a planting guide you might find helpful. Also as you are planning think several years out. Crop rotation can be an important part of the plan to eliminate insect and disease damage.
It is normally recommended to have your soil tested. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1132
https://extension.osu.edu/today/spring-garden-preparation
You could add 3-4" of compost to the garden this fall mixing it into the soil as well as adding some manure. If you add in the fall it does not need to be composted.
Covering the unplanted garden with chopped up leaves can help insulate, add protection to the worms, add organic matter and help keep down any weeds.
https://extension.wvu.edu/lawn-gardening-pests/gardening/gardening-101/planning-your-garden
https://wayne.osu.edu/sites/wayne/files/imce/Program_Pages/ANR/Garden/Planning%20and%20Planting%20%20the%20Garden.pdf
Thank you for the added information. Winter is a great time to plan the spring garden and if you want to do crops like spinach, arugula etc it will be nice to have the garden ready early. Plan the garden- what plants you will be starting from seed what plants you will be buying. When to start them etc.
I have included more information with a planting guide you might find helpful. Also as you are planning think several years out. Crop rotation can be an important part of the plan to eliminate insect and disease damage.
It is normally recommended to have your soil tested. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1132
https://extension.osu.edu/today/spring-garden-preparation
You could add 3-4" of compost to the garden this fall mixing it into the soil as well as adding some manure. If you add in the fall it does not need to be composted.
Covering the unplanted garden with chopped up leaves can help insulate, add protection to the worms, add organic matter and help keep down any weeds.
https://extension.wvu.edu/lawn-gardening-pests/gardening/gardening-101/planning-your-garden
https://wayne.osu.edu/sites/wayne/files/imce/Program_Pages/ANR/Garden/Planning%20and%20Planting%20%20the%20Garden.pdf
