Welcome to the Mercer County Great Garden Giveaway!
On this page, you will find information about each seed in your packet and planting instructions.
Seeds are sourced from Rupp Seeds. www.ruppseeds.com
Please email Ryan McMichael at mcmichael.33@osu.edu if you have any questions or comments on your garden as it grows!
The table below shows an image of the seed and the mature plant. Click the name of the plant to see information and planting instructions. Seeds that are colored (blue, green, and purple) have been treated.
| Plant Name | Seed Image | Mature Plant Image |
| Buttercrunch Lettuce |  |
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| Red Leaf Lettuce |  |
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| Citadel Cucumber |  |
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| Hales Best Cantaloupe |  |
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| Prankster Pumpkin |  |
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| Scarlet Nantes Carrot |  |
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| Gigante d'Italia Parsley |  |
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- Variety: Buttercrunch
- About me: This extremely popular heirloom lettuce has a luscious, buttery texture. The soft heads are creamy yellow inside and have some heat resistance. Best in cooler regions. Plant early in spring and repeat every 2 weeks into fall. Protect from heat with shade cloth. Likes fertile soil, ample water. Best when picked minutes before your meal. Space lettuce plants 8" apart.
- Days to maturity: 65
- How to sow and plant: Sow lettuce seeds in average soil in full sun in early spring for first crop. Sow in late summer for fall crop.
Sow every two weeks to extend harvests.
In late summer, sow in a protected are that stays below 75 degrees F.
Sow thinly in rows 12 inches apart and cover with ¼ inch of fine soil.
Follow the spacing recommended on the seed packet for specific varieties.
Firm lightly and keep evenly moist.
Seedlings emerge in 7-10 days. - How to grow: Thin to stand 8 inches apart when seedlings are 1-2 inches tall.
Keep lettuce plants well watered during dry periods to promote rapid, uninterrupted growth.
Lettuce is shallow-rooted, so avoid disturbing the soil around the plants when weeding.
Unless there is regular rainfall, lettuce plants must be watered deeply at least once a week and more frequently during periods of drought.
Mulch with a layer of compost or clean straw to help the soil retain moisture. Source
Red lettuce
- Variety: Red Salad Bowl
- About me: Deep-cut bronze-burgundy leaves are crisp and tasty—offering colorful, flavorful contrast with its ‘Green Salad Bowl’ cousin. Baby leaves are especially delicious. Slow-to-bolt, early-maturing lettuce yields a steady season-long harvest. Shows some tolerance to late-season mildew. Does well in warmer weather.
- Days to maturity: 50
- How to sow and plant: Sow lettuce seeds in average soil in full sun in early spring for first crop. Sow in late summer for fall crop.
Sow every two weeks to extend harvests.
In late summer, sow in a protected are that stays below 75 degrees F.
Sow thinly in rows 12 inches apart and cover with ¼ inch of fine soil.
Follow the spacing recommended on the seed packet for specific varieties.
Firm lightly and keep evenly moist.
Seedlings emerge in 7-10 days. - How to grow: Thin to stand 8 inches apart when seedlings are 1-2 inches tall.
Keep lettuce plants well watered during dry periods to promote rapid, uninterrupted growth.
Lettuce is shallow-rooted, so avoid disturbing the soil around the plants when weeding.
Unless there is regular rainfall, lettuce plants must be watered deeply at least once a week and more frequently during periods of drought.
Mulch with a layer of compost or clean straw to help the soil retain moisture. Source
Cucumbers
- Variety: Citadel
- About me: Downy mildew-resistant pickler. Perfect cuke for a second planting if downy mildew is a concern, as it will extend the harvest by a few pickings during the time of heaviest disease pressure. The standard blocky shape at 4 1/2" long, fruit is consistent in quality. Semi-concentrated fruit set. Gynoecious. As such, it is necessary to plant all seeds in the packet to produce cucumber fruits.
- Days to maturity: 52
- How to sow and plant: Wait until soil is warm, at least 70°F (21°C). Cucumber seeds will not germinate at a soil temperature below 50°F (10°C). Sow 2 seeds/ft., 1/2" deep, in rows 6' apart. Thin to 12" apart.
- How to grow: Requires warm, well-drained soil high in fertility, with a pH of 6–6.8. Consistent, adequate irrigation is needed to produce an abundant crop. Cucumbers are very sensitive to cold. Make sure both soil and air temperatures have warmed prior to planting. Using plastic mulch and row covers will greatly enhance the vigor and potential yields of cucumbers by providing warmth and insect protection.
Cantaloupe
- Variety: Hales Best Jumbo
- About me: 1920s overnight muskmelon sensation, owing its popularity to excellent flavor with earliness. Beautifully ribbed oval melon with deep-green skin and golden netting. Firm, salmon-toned flesh is aromatic and sweet. A refreshing breakfast treat and a savory hors d’oeuvre when partnered with prosciutto. Thrives in hot weather. Plant at the base of a trellis so vines can climb.
- Days to maturity: 80
- How to sow and plant: Prepare the bed by turning the soil under to a depth of 8 inches. Level with a rake to remove clumps of grass and stones.
Sow in fertile, warm soil after danger of frost has passed.
Sow seeds 3 inches apart in groups of 4-6. Cover with ½ inch of fine soil.
Space groups 4-6 feet apart each way.
Keep evenly moist.
Seedlings emerge in 7-14 days.
Thin to 3 or 4 strongest seedlings in each group when they are 1-2 inches high. - How to grow: Keep weeds under control during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients, so control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their seeds from germinating.
Melons have a shallow root system, mulches help retain soil moisture and maintain even soil temperatures.
Keep plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells. Plants need about 1-2 inches of rain per week during the growing season. Use a rain gauge to check to see if you need to add water. It's best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level. If you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems. Keep the soil moist but not saturated.
As plants grow mulch to control weeds, keep fruits off the ground and conserve moisture
Do not move the vines, they are easily injured.
Monitor for pests and diseases. Source
Pumpkin
- Variety: Prankster
- About me: Prankster is a 3 lb. pumpkin that is ideal for painting and the boxing market. Semi-bush plants produce good yields of 6" W x 4" H fruit that have excellent stems. The fruit have a good deep orange color and shallow ribs. Prankster also offers intermediate resistance to powdery mildew.
- Days to maturity: 85
- How to sow and plant: Sow in fertile, warm soil after danger of frost has passed.
Sow seeds directly in the garden.
Give large-fruited pumpkins plenty of room to ramble.
For improved drainage sow in mounds, or hills of soil 12 inches in diameter, 6-8 inches tall.
Sow in groups 4-6 seed about 3 inches apart. Each group should be about 4-6 feet apart. Cover with 1 inch of fine soil and firm lightly.
Firm lightly and keep evenly moist.
Seedlings emerge in 7-14 days.
Do not plant pumpkins and other squash family crops in the same spot 2 years in a row. - How to grow: Keep weeds under control during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients, so control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their seeds from germinating.
Keep plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells. Plants need about 1-2 inches of rain per week during the growing season. Use a rain gauge to check to see if you need to add water. It's best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level. If you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems. Keep the soil moist but not saturated.
Pumpkins are “dioecious” having both male and female flowers on the same plant. Male flowers will open first and the female flowers will open later.
Do not move or step on vines as they are quite fragile.
Monitor for pests and diseases.
Carrots
- Variety: Scarlet Nantes
- About me: Nantes carrots have a well-deserved reputation for fine flavor and attractive appearance, and this strain has proved exceptionally popular. It is tender and crisp with delightful sweetness, especially when young, and the interiors are brightly colored. Scarlet Nantes ranks high among open pollinated types for roadside sales and freezes well, too.
- Days to maturity: 68
- How to sow and plant: Loosen rich, well-drained soil to a depth of one foot, in a location that receives 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight per day. Plant outdoors in spring as soon as the ground can be worked. Plant seeds ¼ inch deep, ½ inches apart in rows that are spaced 12 to 18 inches apart. Keep moist until germination. Thin to 1 to 2 inches apart after the seedlings are 1½ inches tall.
- How to grow: Keep weeds under control during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients, so control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their seeds from germinating.
Deep, consistent watering and soil well-enriched with compost help carrots form high quality roots by encouraging lush leafy tops that shade the roots, helping to prevent "green shoulders."
Keep plants well watered during dry periods to promote uninterrupted growth. Plants need about 1 inch of rain per week during the growing season. Use a rain gauge to check to see if you need to add water. It’s best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level. If you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems. Keep the soil moist but not saturated.
Monitor for pests and diseases.
Parsley
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Variety: Gigante d'Italia
- About me: This Italian heirloom parsley is very spicy, flavorful; its plain flat leaves are ideal for seasoning. Bushy, thick stalks can also be eaten like celery.
- Days to maturity: 60-90
- How to sow and plant: Sow seeds when all danger of frost has passed in spring. In frost-free areas, sow from fall to early spring.
Sow seeds thinly and cover with ¼ inch of fine soil.
Firm soil and keep moist.
Seeds emerge in 14-21 days.
Thin to 6 inches apart when seedlings are 1-2 inches high. - How to grow: Keep weeds under control during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients, so control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their seeds from germinating.
Mulches also help retain soil moisture and maintain even soil temperatures. For herbs, an organic mulch of aged bark or shredded leaves lends a natural look to the bed and will improve the soil as it breaks down in time. Always keep mulches off a plant’s stems to prevent possible rot.
Keep plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells. Plants need about 1 inch of rain per week during the growing season. Use a rain gauge to check to see if you need to add water. It’s best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level. If you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems. Keep the soil moist but not saturated.
Fertilize as needed with Gro-tone All Purpose Organic Plant Food.
Monitor for pests and diseases. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service for pest controls recommended for your area.
You can remove any flowering stalks that may appear to increase leaf production.
If you let one or two plants go to seed, parsley will often self-sow. Parsley is a biennial, and will not bloom until the second season. Parsley is cold tolerant and may be harvested after frost. Source