September 20, 2025 Weekly Gardening Guide
Episode Transcript
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Hello, gardeners, and welcome back to the Keep Growing Podcast! I’m your host, John Morgan, here to guide you through Week 39, September 20th to 26th, 2025, as we transition into fall. This week, we’ve got a full lineup of gardening tasks, celestial events, and a weather update for the Mid-Ohio Valley to keep your garden thriving. So grab your trowel, and let’s dive in!
Gardening Tasks for the Week
As we head into fall, it’s time to plant hyacinths for vibrant spring blooms. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil, dig holes about 6 inches deep, and place bulbs with the pointed end up, spacing them 4–6 inches apart. Cover with soil, water well, and add a light mulch layer to protect against frost. Mixing in compost or bulb fertilizer will give them a nutrient boost for those colorful spring flowers.
Now is also the perfect time to harvest storage onions, which are ready when their tops yellow and fall over. Gently lift them with a garden fork, shake off excess soil, and let them cure in a dry, well-ventilated area for 2–3 weeks until the skins are papery. Trim the tops and store in a cool, dry place, being careful not to bruise them to prevent rot during storage.
With cooler temperatures approaching, bring potted rosemary plants indoors to a sunny windowsill or under grow lights to protect them from frost. Keep the soil slightly moist but not soggy, and if your rosemary is in the ground, consider potting it up or taking cuttings to root indoors. A light trim will encourage bushy growth for fresh herbs all winter.
For those growing heirloom tomatoes, save seeds from ripe, healthy fruits by scooping them into a jar with a bit of water and letting them ferment for 2–3 days until a mold forms to break down the gel coating. Rinse, dry thoroughly on a paper towel, and store in a labeled envelope in a cool, dry place, choosing tomatoes from your strongest plants for vigorous crops next year.
The New Moon on Sunday, September 21st, is ideal for planting seeds and transplants, as the lunar cycle supports root growth, making it a great time to sow cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach, or radishes, or set out transplants like broccoli or kale in milder zones. Water deeply after planting to help roots settle.
Finally, celebrate the Autumnal Equinox on Monday, September 22nd, marking the first day of fall when day and night are equal. Take a moment to reflect on your summer garden successes and maybe host a small equinox gathering to share late-season veggies with friends.
Mid-Ohio Valley Weather Outlook
The weather in the Mid-Ohio Valley this week will shape your gardening plans. On Saturday, modest surface high pressure from a strong Canadian system will bring mostly clear skies and pleasant temperatures in the low 80s, perfect for planting hyacinths or harvesting onions.
Sunday cools slightly as high pressure builds and upper-level ridging shifts east, with a small disturbance possibly bringing showers or storms to southeast Ohio and northeast Kentucky, though dry air may keep things calm—a great day for New Moon planting.
Shower and storm chances linger into Monday with a slight temperature drop and cloudy skies, so consider indoor tasks like seed-saving if it’s wet.
From Tuesday through the weekend, expect active weather with multiple disturbances moving east, keeping rain or storm chances in play and cloudy skies dominant. Temperatures will fall below average, hovering around the upper 70s by midweek and lasting through the weekend. With potential rain and cooler temps, prioritize bringing rosemary indoors and curing onions in a dry space early in the week before wet weather settles in.
Closing
That’s it for Week 39, gardeners! From planting hyacinths to celebrating the equinox, this week is all about preparing your garden for fall. Stay ahead of the weather, tackle those tasks, and keep growing! Drop me a line on our website with your questions or garden wins. This is John Morgan, signing off. Happy fall y’all, and, of course, keep growing!
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