Master Gardener Articles

Every year, the Orleans County Master Gardeners participate in Cornell’s Vegetable Variety Trial Garden program, which evaluates how different herbs and vegetables grow across New York state. We look at their growth, the amount produced, their taste, and other observations, and report back to...

There is something miraculous about starting seeds indoors. You press a tiny seed into damp soil, and wait—trusting that in the dark, something is stirring. When that first pale loop of green pushes through, it feels like a small victory. But between that first emergence and a strong, transplant...

The wet and muddy days of early spring are the final hurdle to getting back into the garden. Walking on and working in soggy soil will pack the soil particles tightly, making it hard for water, air and roots to get through. And once this compacted soil dries, it can become incredibly hard and tough...

Community and home gardeners who grow food and share their harvests are eligible for free soil testing through the Community Gardens Soil Testing Program. The program is a partnership of Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY, the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, and the Cornell...

Have you been visited by clusters of almond shaped, 2-centimeter-long black bugs with red edges this spring? Boxelder bugs ( Boisea trivittata) have found their way into many of our homes. They are considered nuisance pests that do not generally transmit disease, bite or cause significant damage...

Ask any experienced gardener in Orleans County when to plant, and chances are you'll get the same answer: after Memorial Day. It's not superstition. It's hard-earned local knowledge passed down through generations of gardeners who learned — sometimes the hard way — that our region's last frost doesn...

Saving your own seed pays off in several concrete ways. It lowers your gardening costs year over year. It builds a personal stock of varieties that, after a few seasons, become adapted to your soil, your microclimate, and the length of your growing season — making them more resilient than anything...

When a new pest or disease shows up or things just aren’t coming up like they should, we can provide insights and guidance to help keep you growing. Master Gardener Helpline This phone and email helpline is staffed by Master Gardener Volunteers and our Horticulture Educator Katie Oakes, who can...

While early spring may get all the attention as a time for seed-starting, we don’t have to stop now that we’ve (hopefully, finally!) planted our gardens. By starting or sowing seeds for your favorite vegetables, herbs or flowers at regular intervals or with different days to maturity, you can ensure...

By the Fourth of July, most of us have stopped thinking about planting and started thinking about harvest. But for the gardener willing to look ahead, early July is exactly when the second season begins. Fall planting works differently from spring planting. In spring, we count forward from the last...