Upcoming Event Links
Episode Transcript
[Podcast Intro Music Fades In]
Welcome back to the Keep Growing Podcast, where we dig into the dirt of gardening here in the Mid-Ohio Valley weekly. I’m your host, John Morgan, and today we’re diving into this week’s highlights —April 5th through April 11th, 2025. Spring is in full swing, and there’s plenty to plant and explore as we roll through this week. So grab your trowel, a cup of coffee, and let’s get growing!
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Alright, let’s kick things off with a couple of exciting events happening this week. First up, on Friday, April 11th, the Bossard Library in Gallipolis, OH, is hosting a Raised Bed Gardening Presentation at 6 PM with me presenting. If you’re in the area—or willing to make the trip—this is a free event you won’t want to miss. We’re diving into the ins and outs of raised bed gardening, perfect for anyone looking to maximize their space or keep their plants happy and healthy. It’s a great chance to pick up some pro tips and maybe even chat with fellow gardeners. Have you tried raised beds before? Let me know on Facebook or X—I’d love to hear your take!
Then, on Saturday, April 12th, Bob’s Market is back at it with our annual Spring Color Tour, starting at 2 PM at our production facility in Mason, WV. This is a fun, free event where you’ll get a guided tour of our massive greenhouse operation, plus a presentation on spring gardening. We’re throwing in snacks and door prizes too—who doesn’t love a little bonus? It’s a fantastic way to see how the pros grow on a big scale and get inspired for your own garden. If you’re going, tag Bob’s in your pics!
[Music]
Now, let’s get to the planting plan for this week. Outdoors, it’s time to seed carrots, leaf lettuce, parsley, and parsnips. These cool-season crops are perfect for early spring. Carrots and parsnips bring that sweet, earthy vibe, while leaf lettuce is your go-to for fresh greens in no time. Quick tip: make sure your soil’s nice and loose for those root veggies—they need space to grow deep and strong.
Indoors, we’re starting dill and celery for transplants. Dill’s a game-changer for pickling or adding a punch to your dishes, and celery’s a slow-but-steady winner—trust me, those homegrown stalks are worth the wait. Get them going in trays under a grow light, and you’ll be set for summer.
And if you’re ready to think bigger, this is the week to plant fruit or hazelnut trees, shallots, and strawberries. Strawberries are my personal favorite—easy to grow, quick to fruit, and nothing beats that first ripe berry straight from the plant.
[Transition Music]
A few more tasks to tackle this week: order your sweet potato slips if you haven’t yet. They’ll need warm soil later on, so you’re prepping now for a big payoff down the road—think roasted sweet potatoes from your own backyard. Also, apply crabgrass control to keep those pesky weeds in check—it’s all about timing with that one. And don’t forget to turn your compost pile. Give it a good mix, let the air in, and watch those scraps turn into garden gold.
[Bird Sounds]
Finally, let’s take a look at the weather forecast for the Mid-Ohio Valley. With the cold front expected to be north of our area for a good part of the day Saturday, expecting a decent warm up, with rather warm and muggy conditions for this time of year.
The main cold front will cross the region Sunday morning, and the last round of rain will push across the region from west to east. An additional inch of rain is expected to fall areawide Sunday, with slightly higher amounts across southeast Ohio. This can continue to bring flooding issues, which is why the Flood Watch has been extended through Sunday evening. There is a limited severe weather threat Sunday as well, mainly for damaging wind gusts. Instability will be very limited Sunday, but wind shear will remain plentiful, and downpours can bring strong winds aloft down to the surface.
In addition, a few river basins are forecast to reach either minor or moderate flood stage Sunday across southeast Ohio. This includes the Muskingum River at Beverly and the Hocking River at Athens. These water rises are all due to runoff from recent rainfall.
Sunday`s temperature gradient will be large from northwest to southeast. Temperatures will only reach the 40s across southeast Ohio Sunday, while temperatures across portions of southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia reach the lower 60s ahead of the cold front.
High pressure will finally build back into the region Monday after several days of very wet weather. Chilly weather will return for Monday and Tuesday in a post frontal airmass, with highs only expected to reach the 50s Monday and the 40s Tuesday. Overnight lows in the 20s are expected Monday night and Tuesday night. Any sensitive plants that are currently outside should be brought inside during this time. I would also recommend covering any garden plants.
Temperatures will moderate back to the 60s by Wednesday and Thursday as a ridge moves back over the Ohio Valley. The next chance of precipitation will arrive late in the week as an upper-level low develops over the area. However, there is low confidence in the forecast for late next week due to model disagreement.
[Outro Music Fades In]
So, as we roll into this week, what’s on your growing list? Are you hitting up the Raised Bed Presentation or the Spring Color Tour? Maybe you’re just knee-deep in garden prep or turning that compost with a grin. Gardening’s all about those small, steady steps forward, and that’s what we’re here for on Keep Growing—to keep you inspired and in the dirt.
If you’ve got garden plans—or pics from those Bob’s Market events—find us on Facebook or X at bobsmarket.
That’s it for today, folks. Keep your hands in the soil and your eyes on the seasons. I’ll catch you next week on the Keep Growing Podcast.
[Outro Music Fades Out]
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