Year-Round Growing Plan for Ohio
planning
year-round
What to Grow & How Much
Based on a family of 4’s weekly consumption in Zone 6a (Grove City, Ohio):
| Crop | Weekly Use | Annual Need | Yield / Plant | Plants Needed | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell pepper | 2–3 fruit | 130 fruit | 6–8 fruit/plant | 19 plants | 29 ft² |
| Onion | 1–2 bulbs | 78 bulbs | 1 bulb/plant | 78 plants | 9 ft² |
| Brassica mix | 1 head/bunch | 52 heads | 1 head/plant | 52 plants | 78 ft² |
| Asparagus | 1 lb / 2 wk | 26 lb | 1.5 lb/crown (yr 3+) | 18 crowns | 27 ft² |
| Romaine | 1 head | 52 heads | 1 head/plant | 8 at a time | 8 ft² |
| Jalapeño | occasional | ~30 fruit | 25 fruit/plant | 2 plants | 3 ft² |
| Potato | ~2 lb | 104 lb | ~3 lb/plant | 35 plants | 104 ft² |
| Sweet potato | ~1 lb | 52 lb | ~3 lb/slip | 18 slips | 52 ft² |
| Pole green beans | 1 lb | 52 lb | 1 lb/plant | 52 plants | 13 ft² (vertical) |
| Peas | 1 lb | 52 lb | 0.25 lb/plant | 208 plants | 26 ft² (vertical) |
| Tomatoes | 1–2 | ~24 lb | 10 lb/plant | 3 plants | 12 ft² |
Total productive area needed: ~360 ft²
Bed Allocation
| Bed / Zone | Spring | Summer | Fall & Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| L-Bed A (48 ft²) | Asparagus crowns (permanent) | — | Mulch heavy; let ferns grow |
| L-Bed B (48 ft²) | Early broccoli + kale | Late cabbage | Over-winter kale under row cover |
| 4x8 Bed 1 (32 ft², trellis) | Snap peas | Cucumbers + pole beans | Garlic |
| 4x8 Bed 2 (32 ft², trellis) | Lettuce succession + spinach | Bell & banana peppers | Spinach + mini-lettuce under low tunnel |
| Long 4x16 ft bed (64 ft²) | Onions + carrot interplant | Sweet peppers & jalapeños | Fall carrots + overwintering onions |
| New 4x26 ft ground bed (104 ft²) | Potatoes (hilled) | Cure & store harvest | Fall cover crop (oats/pea) |
| New sweet-potato ridge (52 ft²) | — | Sweet-potato slips (black plastic mulch) | After harvest sow winter rye |
| 20x15 ft hoop tunnel | Seed trays + brassica transplants | Heat-lovers overflow | Cold-hardy greens, carrot & beet “in-ground fridge” |
Planting & Harvest Calendar (Zone 6a)
| Crop | Start Indoors | Transplant / Direct-Seed | Main Harvest | Storage Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onion | Feb–early Mar | April | Jul–Aug | Cure 2 wk, store 32–50°F |
| Broccoli / Cabbage | Feb | Apr | Jun & Sept | Freeze florets / kraut |
| Bell & Banana pepper | early Mar | after 5/10 frost date | Jul–Oct | Dice & freeze |
| Tomato | mid Mar | after 5/10 | Jul–Oct | Sauce/salsa, can or freeze |
| Lettuce | succession every 2 wk | Apr–Oct | May–Nov | Eat fresh |
| Green beans | — | mid-May, Jul | Jul & Sept | Pressure-can 52 qt |
| Peas | — | mid-Mar & Aug | Jun & Oct | Blanch/freeze |
| Potatoes | — | mid-Apr | Aug–Sept | Cure 2 wk, store 40–45°F |
| Sweet potato | slips ready mid-May | 5/20–5/30 | Sept | Cure 2 wk at 80°F then 55°F |
| Asparagus | crowns Mar | perennial | Apr–May (year 3+) | Eat fresh, freeze |
| Cucumber (pickles) | — | late-May | Jul–Sept | Water-bath pickles |
Preserving Cheat Sheet
| Crop | Target Qty | Method | Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green beans | 52 lb | Pressure can 52 qt | 23-qt canner, 60 qt jars |
| Tomato (salsa/sauce) | 60 lb | Water-bath can 36 pt + freeze diced | 21-qt canner |
| Pickling cukes | 30 lb | Lacto-ferment or water-bath | 1-gal glass jars & lids |
| Bell/Jalapeño | 20 lb | Dice & tray-freeze | Sheet pans, freezer bags |
| Broccoli/Kale | 40 lb | Blanch & freeze | Large stockpot + ice bath |
| Potatoes | 104 lb | Cool, dark storage crates | Basement corner 40–45°F |
| Sweet potatoes | 52 lb | Cure then store 55–60°F | Ventilated boxes |
| Onions & garlic | 80 bulbs | Cure & braid | Mesh bags, cellar |
Low-Budget Infrastructure Tips
- Soil: Blend aged manure + homemade compost + leaf mold each winter
- Irrigation: $80 DIY drip (1/2” poly + 1/4” dripline) + timer = huge yield bump
- Row covers for spring/fall (~$25/50 ft, buy once)
- Caterpillar tunnel (20x15 ft) — EMT conduit hoops + 6-mil poly ~$250, fresh greens even in January
- Vertical supports: Cattle-panel arches for peas/beans/cukes — cheaper than lumber
- Flood-prone spots: Keep heavy feeders (corn, zucchini) or use movable grow bags
- Composting station: Three-bin pallet setup = endless fertility