Home Gardening Links

Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension and Dept. of Horticulture offers in-depth, research-based information on all aspects of home gardening from lawns to fruit trees. Learn more at their Garden-Based Learning pages or go directly to their Garden page.

Categories of resources by topic are listed below. Learn more about gardening in each of these categories by choosing one of the links. If you wish to speak to someone about a gardening question, please call the Extension Office at 518-962-4810 or email the Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator, Mina Weymouth-Little at mcw252@cornell.edu. 

Online Resources

Soil

Using Organic Matter in the Garden

Soil Tests

Making The Most Out Of Your Vegetable Garden Soil Test Report 

How to Take a Soil Sample

Calculators National Gardening Association – for lowering soil pH, etc.

Calculator List with links to different calculators

Compost

Home Composting
Designs for Composting Systems
Welded Wire Cylinder Bin [directions for building]

Seed Starting

Indoor Vegetable Seed Starting
Low Cost Grow-Light Frame Plans

Vegetables

Selected List of Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners in NY State 2024
Tomato Variety Recommendations for Late Blight Resistance (2015)
Vegetable Growing Guide (Beginner’s Edition) Northern NY
Cornell’s Vegetable Growing Guides
Vegetables – Cornell Garden Based Learning

Cultivating Confidence with Coffee- Planting Asparagus!

Flowers

Cornell’s Flower Growing Guides
Garden Plant Identification

Fruit

Food Gardening - Growing Fruit

Pests & Diseases

Tomato and Potato Late Blight 
USA Blight.org A National Project on Tomato & Potato Late Blight in the U.S.
Tomato Variety Recommendations for Late Blight Resistance (2105)
Plant Diagnostics: What is “wrong” with my plant?
BugGuide – Iowa State University, Dept. of Entomology
Cornell Vegetable Resources
New York State Integrated Pest Management Program

Lawns

Lawn Care: The Easiest Steps to an Attractive Environmental Asset

Native Plants

Native Spring Blooming Perennials
Native Summer Blooming Perennials
Native Fall Blooming Perennials
Native Ornamental Grasses
Native Trees and Shrubs

Invasives

Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program

Last updated February 21, 2025