Mercer County Programs
Great Garden Giveaway
The vegetable seeds are here! We are giving away free packets of vegetable seeds to Mercer County residents starting April 1. Your packet includes: cucumber, canteloupe, carrots, red leaf lettuce, buttercrunch lettuce, pumpkin, parsley, and *new this year!* sunflower seeds. For information on the seeds and planting instructions, please click the red box below.
Click here to visit the Great Garden Giveaway webpage
Lawn and Garden Talk Series
Want to improve your green thumb? Are you curious about beneficial insects or pollinators? Perhaps you are passionate about creating a beautiful and sustainable outdoor space. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, our Lawn and Garden Talk Series is the perfect place to grow your knowledge and skills.
Join us on the last Wednesday of each month from April to September at 6:00 PM for a series of free, informative, and engaging talks. Our knowledgeable speakers will cover a wide range of topics, including vegetables, plants, trees, insects, and lawns. You'll gain valuable insights, tips, and tricks to help you achieve the garden of your dreams. Each session is designed to be interactive, providing you with the opportunity to ask questions and connect with fellow gardening enthusiasts.
Talks are held in the Conference Room of the Mercer County Ag Center, located at 4978 Mud Pike, Celina, OH 45822. All talks are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required.
The 2026 Schedule is:
April 29: Spotting the Spotted Lanternfly with Curtis Young, ANR (Agriculture and Natural Resources) Educator at OSU Extension Van Wert County
May 27: From Cabbage to Sauerkraut: A Vegetable Fermentation Workshop with Tina McGillvary, FCS (Family and Consumer Sciences) Educator at OSU Extension Darke County
June 24: Gardening With Purpose: The Master Gardener Volunteer Program with OSU Extension Professionals
July 29: History in Full Bloom: Sunflowers Then and Now with Vaughn Davis, Co-Owner of SchoolHouse Farms
August 26: Building Your Backyard Greenhouse with Ryan McMichael, ANR Educator at OSU Extension Mercer County
September 30: Bloom or Doom? Plants to Watch Out For with Rylee Kay Puthoff, ANR Educator at OSU Extension Shelby County
All classes begin at 6:00pm.
Garden Cover Crop
Mercer County OSU Extension, in collaboration with the Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District, provided free Fall Cover Crop Seed to vegetable gardeners in the county. Any Mercer County resident can receive up to 3 pounds (approx. 2,000 ft²) of a cover crop seed mix for their vegetable garden. This is a mixture of radish, oat, and cereal rye seed.
Planting a cover crop can reduce soil erosion, suppress weed seeds, maintain soil nutrient levels, and increase earthworm activity for their vegetable gardens. Farmers have been utilizing cover crops for many of these same reasons and plan to continue planting cover crop seeds for numerous soil health benefits. It is recommended to plant the cover crop seed as soon as vegetable gardens are cleaned up and put to rest for the season. Seeding should occur before mid-October for best results. Residents should know their garden size in square feet before coming to the Mercer County Extension Office to pick up seed. We have run out in the past, so feel free to call ahead to ensure we still have some seed.
How to terminate cover crop in the spring
Fruit 101
NEW series in 2026! This educational series will focus on the basics of fruit growing, pollination, equipment and material, pruning and care, and pest control. The four classes will cover apples, brambles, grapes, and strawberries. These classes are free and open to the public.
Dates are Wednesdays in March: March 4, March 11, March 18, and March 25. All will begin at 6:00pm.
Location is the Mercer County Ag Center Conference Room, 4978 Mud Pike, Celina. No pre-registration required.
Click here for the Fruit Gardening 101 Flyer
Resources
Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine provides timely information about Ohio growing conditions, pest, disease, and cultural problems. Articles and supporting photos are created by members of the Extension, Nursery, Landscape, Turf (ENLT) team to benefit those who are managing a commercial nursery, garden center, or landscape business or someone who just wants to keep their yard looking good all summer.
Fact sheet about soil testing for lawns and gardens