How to Grow a Thriving Vegetable Garden in Northeast Ohio

As a gardener and a pickle enthusiast, I’m always on the lookout for tips and tricks to grow the perfect cucumbers and tomatoes. Recently, I came across a reader’s question about growing cucumbers in Northeast Ohio, and I was surprised to learn that these heat-loving vines can be quite challenging to cultivate in our region.

However, one reader, Nick from Parma Heights, shared his success story of growing dozens of cucumbers using a simple yet effective method - landscape fabric. Nick lays down black cloth to prevent weeds and retain moisture in the soil, which has resulted in a bountiful harvest of cucumbers and tomatoes.

But what exactly is landscape fabric, and how can you use it to improve your vegetable garden? In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of landscape fabric, how to use it, and other tips for keeping your garden irrigated during dry spells.

The Benefits of Landscape Fabric

Landscape fabric is a type of material that comes in various colors, thicknesses, and materials. It’s designed to suppress weeds and extend the growing season by retaining moisture in the soil. Many small-scale farmers and community gardens rely on landscape fabric to improve their crop yields.

Nick’s experience with landscape fabric has been nothing short of remarkable. He reports that the black cloth keeps out about 95% of the weeds and helps the plants grow by retaining moisture and heat in the soil. His cucumbers and tomatoes are thriving, and he’s able to harvest fresh produce right from his garden.

How to Use Landscape Fabric

Using landscape fabric is relatively straightforward. Simply cut “X"s in the cloth and plant through it. Most brands have green stripes a foot apart to help with plant spacing, and some brands come with pre-formed holes to eliminate the cutting step.

As Nick says, “It seems like a lot of work/steps, but it really isn’t. I find that it really helps the plants grow…the black cloth keeps out about 95% of the weeds. I feel that the black cloth holds in the moisture and holds the heat in from the sun.”

Keeping Your Garden Irrigated

Another hot topic this summer has been keeping our gardens irrigated during dry spells. Reader Jack from Broadview Heights sent an update and photo about the success of his garden hack using plastic juice bottles as submerged reservoirs.

“This has been a tough year drought-wise…in spite of the drought, my raised beds are great. The buried juice bottles are doing the job. I ran out of rain barrel water a week ago, so I’m using city water.”

Master Gardener Carolyn Hufford has also been experimenting with reducing garden watering, inspired by the advice in a book she highly recommends, Gardening with Less Water: Low-Tech, Low-Cost Techniques; Use up to 90% Less Water in Your Garden by David Bainbridge.

Similar to Jack’s method, she is using a terra cotta vessel, called an olla (pronounced “oh-ya”) pot, buried in the raised bed or container garden. Instead of individual holes in the juice bottle method, water seeps through the naturally porous terra cotta to the surrounding soil.

Using landscape fabric to suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil

Using a terra cotta olla pot to reduce garden watering

By following these tips and using landscape fabric and creative irrigation methods, you can grow a thriving vegetable garden in Northeast Ohio, even in challenging weather conditions. Happy gardening!