4.11.26 - Spring Color Summer Weather

Transcript

[Intro Music]

Welcome back to the Keep Growing Podcast, your weekly guide to gardening right here in the Mid-Ohio Valley. I’m your host, John Morgan, coming to you from beautiful Mason, WV, and today we’re talking about the week ahead: April 11th through the 17th, 2026.

Spring is truly in full swing, folks. The days are getting longer, the soil is warming up, and there’s color popping up everywhere. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting your hands dirty for the first time this year, we’ve got tips, events, and weather insights to help your garden thrive. Let’s dig in!

First up, mark your calendars for … today — that’s right, Saturday, April 11th. If you haven’t already made plans, you need to head over to Bob’s Market and Greenhouses in Mason, West Virginia, for our Spring Color Tour at 2:00 PM.

This is one of the highlights of the spring gardening season. You’ll get a guided, behind-the-scenes tour of our massive greenhouse facility by me! See all the beautiful spring blooms up close, enjoy some snacks, and there are even door prizes! It’s a fantastic chance to learn how we grow everything. From soil to finished plants, get inspired for your own garden, and connect with other local gardeners.

The address is 1168 Second Street in Mason, WV. Just up from the Market in the Big Red Building. Come early, bring your questions, and get ready to be amazed by the sea of color we’ve got going on. If you’ve never been, trust me — it’s worth the drive.

[Short pause]

Now, let’s talk about what to plant this week. Mid-April in the Mid-Ohio Valley is prime time for cool-season crops, and according to our gardening almanac, Wednesday, April 15th is a great day to head outside (contemplate income taxes) and seed tatsoi, lettuce, spinach, and leeks directly in the garden.

These are all hardy greens and alliums that love the cooler spring soil and can handle a light frost if we get one. Tatsoi is one of my favorites — it’s a mild Asian green that grows quickly and gives you baby leaves in no time for salads. Lettuce and spinach are classics, and leeks are worth the wait for those sweet, mild onion flavors later in the season.

Quick tips for success:

·       Make sure your soil is workable — not too wet or muddy.

·       Sow in rows or blocks, and thin as they grow for the best production.

·       A light row cover can help if nights still dip chilly.

·       Succession plant every 7-10 days if you want a continuous harvest.

These crops will give you fresh, homegrown produce well before the heat-loving tomatoes and peppers go in.

[Transition]

On Friday, April 17th, we have the New Moon. Many gardeners who follow lunar cycles like to use this as a time for certain tasks. This week’s almanac suggests it’s a good day to remove row covers from strawberries and plant more perennials.

Removing those covers lets your strawberries breathe and get full sun as they start flowering and setting fruit. Just keep an eye on the forecast in case we get a surprise late frost.

Planting perennials on or around the New Moon can give them a strong start as the moon’s energy begins to build again. Whether you’re adding more flowers for pollinators, herbs, or structural plants, now’s a great window while the soil is moist and temperatures are mild.

[Weather segment – Inst. Music]

Let’s check the weather outlook for the Mid-Ohio Valley this week, because we all know weather drives our gardening schedule.

Today, Saturday the 11th, a cold front is crossing the area. Expect a chance of light showers and maybe an isolated thunderstorm or two, especially up north. Don’t count on much rain though — the air is pretty dry, so most of any precipitation may evaporate before it hits the ground. Rainfall over a tenth of an inch will be tough to come by.

Dry weather takes over from Saturday afternoon through Sunday night.

Then, starting Monday, chances for more adequate rainfall and thunderstorms return and stick around through the week as a series of disturbances move through. It looks like we could finally get some meaningful moisture.

Temperatures next week will run above normal — daytime highs in the 70s and 80s, with nighttime lows in the 50s. That’s beautiful gardening weather, folks. Warm enough to push growth, but not yet scorching.

Overall, it’s a great week to be outside — just keep an eye on those afternoon storms early in the week and make sure your young seedlings are protected if heavy rain is in the forecast.

[Closing segment]

That wraps up our look at April 11th through the 17th. Get out to Bob’s for the Spring Color Tour if you can, sow those cool-season seeds mid-week, take care of your strawberries and perennials around the New Moon, and enjoy this stretch of spring-like weather.

Remember, gardening is about patience, observation, and a little bit of joy every day. If you have questions about what you’re seeing in your garden or want to share your successes (or challenges), drop me a line — I love hearing from listeners.

Thanks for tuning in to the Keep Growing Podcast. Keep your hands dirty, your plants happy, and we’ll talk to you next week for another update tailored to the Mid-Ohio Valley.

[Outro Music fades in]

This is John Morgan saying… Keep Growing!