What Fruits & Vegetables Are Grown in Ohio?

Nearly half of Ohio's total acreage is farmland. The state's biggest crops are feed corn and soybeans, but farmers also cultivate more than 40 fruits and vegetables. Two of the state's biggest fruit crops are grapes and apples, and the farm-to-table movement is driving demand among chefs and restaurateurs for the state's fruit and vegetable crops.

Grapes

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Most Ohio grapes are grown for the state's burgeoning wine industry. Familiar varietals grown in Ohio include Chardonnay, pinot gris, reisling, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir. In 2005, 8,500 tons of grapes were harvested in the state.

Apples

Ohio has ranked among the top 10 states in apple production. Visitors to many of the state's orchards can pick the fruit to take home. Ohio apple farmers grow familiar varieties, including Cameo, Crispin, Golden Delicious, Rome, Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp and McIntosh.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers comprise the state's top vegetable crop. More than 1,300 acres in Sandusky County alone are devoted to the crop.

Peaches

Peaches are a growing industry in Ohio, according to the Ohio State University Extension. The state has produced as much as 11 million pounds of the fruit in one year. Most of the peach crop is grown in the northern part of the state.

Vegetables To Grow In Ohio

More and more home gardeners want to expand their garden to provide more food for their family. The issue may not be money, but flavor. Many leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, cabbage, spinach or chard, grow better in the cooler weather. Plant peas when you plant your leafy vegetables in the early spring or wait until late in the summer for a fall crop so the plants can mature in the cooler weather. Beans come in many different varieties, most of which grow well in Ohio soil and temperatures. Till in an additive, such as sand, to make the soil softer and allow the root vegetables to grow straighter or develop nicer. Carrots, parsnips, beets, radishes and potatoes are all root vegetables that will grow well in your Ohio garden. Tomatoes are a favorite among many gardeners in Ohio and all over the country. When you plant your tomatoes in your garden, give them some support in the form of a tomato cage or pole. Plant squash seeds directly into the soil after all dangers of frost.