Seasonal Crop Guide: What to Plant and Harvest Each Season

​Understanding the rhythm of the seasons is crucial for any successful farmer. In Ohio, each season brings its own unique opportunities and challenges for planting and harvesting crops. By aligning our farming practices with the natural cycles, we can ensure a bountiful harvest and a thriving agricultural community.

Spring is the season of renewal and growth. As the ground thaws and temperatures rise, it's time to start planting cool-season crops. Vegetables like lettuce,

spinach, peas, and radishes thrive in the cooler temperatures of early spring. This is also the perfect time to plant potatoes and onions, which will be ready for harvest in the summer.

Summer is when the fields come alive with activity. Warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and beans flourish in the heat. Corn, a staple of Ohio agriculture, is also planted in late spring and early summer. As the days grow longer, farmers work tirelessly to tend to their crops, ensuring they receive enough water and nutrients to reach their full potential.

Fall is the season of harvest, a time to reap the rewards of hard work. Crops like pumpkins, squash, and sweet potatoes are ready to be gathered. It's also the season for harvesting apples, a beloved crop in Ohio. Farmers prepare their fields for the winter by planting cover crops, which help protect and enrich the soil for the next growing season.

Winter may seem like a quiet time on the farm, but it's a season of planning and preparation. Farmers take this time to repair equipment, plan crop rotations, and order seeds for the coming year. It's also a time to reflect on the past season's successes and challenges, learning and adapting to improve future harvests.

By understanding and respecting the natural cycles of the seasons, we can ensure that our farms remain productive and sustainable. Each season brings its own unique opportunities, and by working with nature, we can continue to grow and thrive as a community.

Let's embrace the rhythm of the seasons and celebrate the hard work and dedication of our farmers—because when agriculture thrives, we all do!