drawings of garden tools and leaves

Diggin In: Clean your tools & more

Here is the newest edition of Diggin In, the newsletter published by the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. Articles for November Clean Up in the Toolroom by Nancy Walker, Master Gardener Volunteer November Garden Checklist: A Little More Time to Plant, by Lydia Fernandez, Master Gardener Volunteer You can have a mission, too by Lydia Fernandez, Master Gardener Volunteer When Julia Bender decided to join the Master Gardener Program in 2024, she came with the specific…...

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pumpkin in Amherst NY

What to do with worn-out pumpkins

by Connie Oswald Stofko Do you think Halloween monsters are horrible? Here’s something more horrible: throwing a jack-‘o-lantern into the trash! When you’re done with your pumpkin, compost it. You can smash it, too. It’s quite entertaining! Before you place your rotting pumpkin in your compost bin, you need to get it into smaller parts so it will decompose more quickly. You could use a knife, but smashing it on a hard surface is faster, easier and more fun. Remember…...

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illustration of garlic bulbs by Stofko

WNY Gardening Matters: garlic & more

It’s time to plant garlic, and you can learn more in WNY Gardening Matters, the publication of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County. October planting generally results in bigger and more flavorful bulbs, said Peggy Koppmann in the article “This Month in the Garden.” Garlic needs a long period of cold temperatures, so fall planting gives cloves time to sprout and develop established roots. Read about winter watering, a bird buffet and more in “This Month in the Garden.” Other articles…...

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Joe pye weed in autumn by Connie Oswald Stofko

Diggin In newsletter: resilience

The October edition of Diggin In newsletter includes an essay on resilience in gardening, an introduction into galls and a garden checklist. Diggin In is published by the Master Gardeners in Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. by Lydia Fernandez, Master Gardener Volunteer As gardeners, one of the most important things we grow is resilience. Season after season, we learn, we adapt and we try again. Whether we see ourselves as optimists or pessimists in life, we are hopeful in…...

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soil with trowel in Amherst NY

Moving into autumn: tips from Master Gardeners in Orleans County

As autumn settles in, it’s tempting to focus solely on the checklist—deadheading, mulching, putting beds to rest. But before we rush into end-of-season tasks, consider taking a different approach this month. Step into your garden not as a worker, but as an observer. Notice the subtle shift in light, the way seeds have scattered in unexpected places, the quiet persistence of late bloomers. Your garden has been telling stories all season long. This month, let’s slow down enough to listen. —From…...

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Sign up now for 3-day course on food preservation

Cornell Cooperative Extension in Cattaraugus County will offer a three-day Master Food Preservation workshop on Tuesday through Thursday, October 7-9. It will take place at the Seneca Allegany Community Center, 3677 Administration Dr., Salamanca, NY 14799. This training is for those who would like to go beyond the basics of home food preservation in their home. Topics include the science of food preservation, hands-on experience with boiling water canning, pressure canning, atmospheric steam canning, observation and participation with fermentation, freezing and dehydrating/drying. The…...

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late blight on tomatoes

Late blight found in Cattaraugus County; devastates tomatoes & potatoes

Late blight has been found in Cattaraugus County, according to the Cornell Vegetable Program. “As the disease spreads quickly, I would urge everyone in Chautauqua County and other surrounding areas to be on the lookout,” said Katelyn Walley-Stoll, agriculture team leader at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Chautauqua County. If you suspect you might have infected plants or have more questions, contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension office in your county. What is late blight? Late blight is a quick spreading, easily traveling,…...

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graphics of snow tomato and rain

Don’t rush Mother Nature

by Connie Oswald Stofko You have to watch the weather and can’t rely on dates. If you wanted to plant tender vegetables on Mother’s Day or Memorial Day this year, you’re probably feeling disappointed right now. Many parts of Western New York had frost warnings last night. Even if you didn’t get frost, it was too cool overnight for tender plants, such as tomatoes. “Not just tomatoes, said Patti Jablonski-Dopkin, general manager at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market. “I’d be careful of…...

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Sales & plant exchanges are popping up in WNY!

by Connie Oswald Stofko It’s a heady time for gardeners—plant sales and plant exchanges from nonprofit groups are popping up all over Western New York! These plant sales are a great way to find bargains, connect with friends and neighbors and find out what other gardeners in WNY are planting. Some of the plants in the sales come straight from the gardens of the members in the organizations. Since those gardeners have extra plants to share, it’s a good sign…...

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digging in yard by Stofko

Take it slow: That tip & more from Master Gardeners in WNY

Master Gardeners in Erie and Orleans Counties offer helpful tips and advice in their monthly newsletters. Here’s the latest information. Orleans County Digging In, the newsletter by Master Gardeners in Orleans County, starts off with suggestions on taking it slow: We are all itching to get back into the garden, to clean up the leaves, cut back spent perennials, and dig in new plants. But there are reasons to take it slow. Yes, they include protecting our pollinators, but they also…...

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