Cornell Cooperative Extension

Albany County
seedlings in a flat
Image by Sandy Repp

Learn the first and last dates to plant veggies in our area!

pansies
Image by Sandy Repp

Pansies are an annual that provides early blooms.

Plants in Cornell Plantations (PLTNS) greenhouses (Cornell University Photography)
Image by Lindsay France

Coleus plants in a greenhouse

Japanese beetle
Image by Kansas Department of Agriculture Archive, Bugwood.org

Our IPM pages can help you control garden pests.

Gardening

At the present time we are unable to offer Soil Testing at CCE Albany.

Dairy One/Agro1 Lab is still accepting soil samples for pH and nutrient testing. They recommend that the soil testing samples be mailed directly to them from the customer to minimize the amount of people who are contacting the samples. Dairy One/Agro1 Lab asks that the customer order the testing boxes from their website:

https://dairyone.com/product-category/kits/ or via phone 800-344-2697. They will then mail you the testing box and correct form for submission.

How to Take a Soil Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9AwxmFxBwg&list=PLHPXm2Es8aQC2vyn2lV1ij3bAHtPk2kg2&index=14&t=4s

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County is your resource for information on soils, site improvement, plant selection, proper plant care, eco-friendly practices, integrated pest management, composting and so much more! We offer free or low-cost gardening classes and tours all year long, and opportunities to share your love of gardening as a volunteer!

coneflowers and black eyed susans (echinacea & rudbeckia)

Easy Care Perennials

Perennials offer year after year of blooms for your garden, and are a smart investment in your garden. Visit our resources to learn more.

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fresh compost

Making Compost!

Find resources here on how to start and maintain a home compost bin! Learn how to turn food and yard waste into "black gold" for your garden!

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Kitchen garden in Gers, France with marigolds, tomatoes and trellises

Food Gardening

Interested in having your own vegetable garden, at home or in your neighborhood? Find links and resources here that will help get you started.

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Japanese maple, Acer palmatum Thunb.

Trees & Shrubs

Ornamental trees and shrubs can enhance the beauty of your home landscaping. Find some suggested varieties here.

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plants sprouting in dark soil

Soils & Climate

At the present time we are unable to offer soil testing at CCE Albany, however, Dairy One/Agro1 Lab is still accepting soil samples for pH and nutrient testing...

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Black-tailed deer grazing by the roadside in Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington [public domain].

Deer Resistant Plants

Is there anything they won't eat? Although no plant is completely "deer proof", we've compiled a chart of deer-resistant varieties that may avoid their browsing.

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Contact

Carole Henry
Master Gardener Coordinator, Albany County CCE
ch878@cornell.edu
518-765-3516

Last updated May 26, 2020

Gardening

Have Gardening Questions?

Call:  518-765-3514

Email:  albanymg@cornell.edu

Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County Consumer Horticulture Services

INVASIVE SPECIES: Asian Jumping Worm Fact Sheet

Houseplant Selection & Care Fact Sheet

CCE Albany Horticulture Brochures

Master Gardener Program

Memorial Demonstration Gardens

ROOT CONCERNS Gardening Newsletter

May 2020

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Events

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Insect Diagnostic Lab

U.S. postage stamps of spiders and insects, used on the Cornell Insect Diagnostic Lab website; 200px wide to use as an image for a sidebar link to their site at: http://entomology.cornell.edu/IDL

For more information about an insect, or how to deal with an insect problem in or around your home or garden, contact the Insect Diagnostic Lab, a program of Cornell Cooperative Extension in the Department of Entomology. For a $25 fee, an insect or related arthropod can be shipped to the lab, or a detailed photo can be emailed, for expert identification. Diagnostician Jason Dombroskie, Ph.D. has many years ofexperience identifying insects and other arthropods. More information about this service, including fact sheets on common outdoor and indoor insects, can be found at http://idl.entomology.cornell.edu/

Find Your Zone!

2012 USDA Hardiness Zone Map

The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map helps gardeners and growers determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. For the first time, the map is available as an interactive GIS-based map, for which a broadband Internet connection is recommended. Users may also simply type in a ZIP Code and find the hardiness zone for that area.