© OSU Extension Gardeners can learn about growing and using herbs at the Edible Garden exhibit at the Home & Garden Exhibition.Gardeners looking for ideas to enhance or expand their vegetable, fruit and herb gardens for the upcoming growing season should check out the Spring Columbus Dispatch Home & Garden Show, February 18-26 at the Ohio Convention Center. While it may be cold and snowy outside, temperatures inside the Home & Garden exhibit will be warm, with flowering plants, green leaves and tomatoes transporting gardeners into spring and summer.
Edible plants on display
Gardeners can learn more about growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs at the Edible Garden Fair at the Celeste Center's Garden Stage. The Edible Garden is a popular kitchen, fruit and edible garden designed to teach gardeners how to grow food at home, especially in a small space. The garden will have raised beds and a variety of flower beds with vegetables, herbs, edible flowers and even berries such as grapes. During the show, the garden will be manned by volunteer OSU Extension Master Gardeners who will demonstrate the most efficient gardening techniques.
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© Photo by Mike HoganNew to this year's edible garden is an accessible display of flower beds for disabled gardeners. The flower bed will be accessible to gardeners with wheelchairs, scooters or walkers. Gardening tools adapted to make gardening easier for people with disabilities and reduced mobility are presented in the garden. On February 18 at 3:00 pm, the Garden Stage will present a lecture "Gardening that adapts to aging".
New at this year's Home & Garden fair is a keyhole garden with dwarf fruit trees, tomatoes and flowers. Volunteer Master Gardeners will be coming to Keyhole Garden to demonstrate how home gardeners can integrate fruit trees into the family garden and grow juicy, plump tomatoes this summer.
Planned lessons
Plan to attend some of the 37 different scheduled presentations on various garden topics at the Garden Stage at the Celeste Center. There will be presentations from expert gardeners on using native plants in the garden, rearing birds in the garden, beekeeping, growing and using herbs, edible flowers, container gardening, and dozens of other horticultural topics. For a complete presentation schedule, see www.dispatchshows.com/the-garden-stage.
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Get answers to your questions
During the show, you'll be able to solve your toughest lawn, garden, and landscaping problems by visiting the Ask a Master Gardener booth, where volunteer master gardeners will answer all your gardening questions. Free gardening fact sheets on dozens of different topics are available at the stand.
What you need to know when you go
The Columbus Dispatch Home & Garden trade show will take place February 18-26. The lounge is open Saturdays 11am-8pm, Sundays 11am-6pm and weekdays 11am-7pm, except when closed on 21st February. Discount tickets are available online at https://www.dispatchshows.com/2023-admission-parking.
Mike Hogan is a professor and assistant professor of agriculture and natural resources at Ohio State University.
hogan.1@osu.edu
This article first appeared in The Columbus Dispatch: Get Growing Season Tips at the Spring Dispatch Home & Garden Show.
