Photo by Michele Newbanks Brady Clem, 17, hangs baskets of snapdragons Monday afternoon at Bob's Market and Greenhouse in Belpre.

According to the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association, production agriculture is specifically listed as essential, and nursery and greenhouse production is federally classified as agriculture, indicating growers should be able to remain operational at this time. Minimum basic operations are also allowed to include activities to maintain the value of the business’ inventor.

Although the order’s essential business guidance does not clearly mention garden centers, many garden centers offer fruits and vegetables to customers for home gardening, and sell firewood, pet supplies, and other household essentials.

It’s not only still OK to garden and create something beautiful, but to buy items that might cut down on trips to the store.

Jay Huck, owner of L.E. Huck Greenhouses in Marietta, said they’ve been selling early season crops such as cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli.

Photo by Michele Newbanks Samantha Banziger, 18, sets out pots of roses Monday at Bob's Market and Greenhouse.

“Those are plants that will take frost if they’re outside,” he said.

He said is still a little early for plants like tomatoes and peppers. They should be planted after the last frost date for Southeast Ohio, which is May 10.

People can stop by the open greenhouse to peruse their plants.

Other businesses are offering a different method, to encourage social distancing.

Greenleaf Landscapes has closed its garden center, but they are asking people to call for information, or request prices or photos. Customers can pay over the phone, and pick up their purchases at the gate. Greenleaf is only offering bulk delivery and curbside service.

Wildroot Flower Co., located on Forshey Road in Marietta, is selling cutting garden boxes, which contain a mix of seeds for people who are new to gardening.

“They are easy seeds they can put directly in the ground,” said shop owner Lyndsay Biehl. “Some people are intimidated by starting seeds inside and then transplanting them outside.”

She said along with early spring crops, people are buying flower seeds that are easy to grow, such as zinnia and marigold seeds.

“There is also cucumbers and green beans, which they can plant throughout the season,” Biehl said. “The good thing is that for some of these, you can even grow them in containers. You can have a patio vegetable garden or a flower cutting garden on their back porch.”

Wildroot has a self-serve farm stand just inside their Forshey Road location. She said people can come and pick up flowers and plants at certain times, which are posted on their social media pages.

“Flowers will be available on Saturday for Easter,” she added.

Jon Neff, owner of Bob’s Market and Greenhouse in Belpre, said with the current global outlook, people have been wanting to buy vegetables and seeds such as lettuce, broccoli, spinach, kale and brussels sprouts. They’ve also been buying seed potatoes and onion sets.

“With the shortages and hoarding, edibles and garden plants are going,” Neff said. “Nine out of 10 phone calls we get are about garden plants and seeds.”

He noted that perennials are easy to plant and are more forgiving if the planter doesn’t have a green thumb. With his open greenhouse, customers are able to walk around and find plants, flowers and garden accessories

“They don’t bloom all summer, but they are set and forget,” Neff said. “They are set out and are tough and grow on their own.”

Plants such as salvia, shasta daisies and foxglove are more hearty and can handle colder weather. Annuals such as begonias, impatiens and dianthus are tender and frost will kill them, he added.

Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.

At a glance:

•Some plants and flowers can be planted now.

•Others should be planted after May 10, which is the last frost date for Southeast Ohio.

• People are buying more cold-weather plants like cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce and spinach, due to the quarantine.

•Some flowers are more hearty and can withstand chilly weather.

Source: Times research.