How to Water by Sarina Barrera
May 20, 2022 Watering your plants is something that may seem easy, right? Just add water! Surprisingly, there is a “best way” to water plants. Here are a […]
Plant Spacing by Sarina Barrera
May 13, 2022 It seems like the danger of winter has passed and it’s time to bring your seedlings out and direct sow your seeds outdoors. Seedlings are […]
Gardening on a Budget by Sarina Barrera
May 6, 2022 It’s always so much fun to think of great ideas for home projects! Yet, the costs of materials can deter anyone from following through with […]
Spring Perennial Plant Care by Sarina Barrera
April 29, 2022 Perennial plants, those that return year after year, providing us with aesthetic beauty, a source of food for both pollinators and humans, medicine, ground cover […]
Direct Sowing vs. Transplants by Sarina Barrera
April 22, 2022 Planting season is here, and many beginning gardeners may be asking themselves, should I direct seed this plant, or transplant it? What’s the difference? Direct […]
Protecting Crops from the Cold by Sarina Barrera
April 15, 2022 Spring time in Broome County is beautiful and sometimes unpredictable. There has been snow here as late as June and a frost can cause damage […]
Hardening off Brassicas by Sarina Barrera
April 8, 2022 Now that you have started your seedlings from the brassica family (cabbage, kale, broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, collards, and brussels sprouts) indoors, it’s time to harden […]
Preparing The Garden (For Spring Planting) by Sarina Barrera
April 1, 2022 Whether you’re new to gardening or not, the early Spring is an exciting time. The changes in the air and temperature, the extending daylight hours […]
IPM: Flea Beetles by Sarina Barrera
March 25, 2022 We are all excited to see warmer weather, but there’s always one thing most of us dread when seasons change: bugs. As gardeners, bugs can […]
All About Clover by Sarina Barrera
March 18, 2022 With St. Patrick’s Day in March, we see lots of green and four-leaf clovers. But did you know that clover can be one of a […]
Composting 101 by Sarina Barrera
March 11, 2022 Compost is a magical thing. It adds beneficial nutrients to your soil, and home composting can help keep waste that produces greenhouse gasses out of […]
Cold Weather Crops by Sarina Barrera
March 4, 2022 Believe it or not, spring is fast approaching! There are many crops that can be planted in the early spring, as soon as your garden […]
Green Thumb Workshops by Amelia
February 25, 2022 We hope you are enjoying the Cultivation Calendar this year! We try to keep our Cultivation Calendar posts short, sweet, and simple, but sometimes, you […]
Raised Bed Gardening by Sarina Barrera
February 18, 2022 Have you ever considered building a raised bed at your home? This is a wonderful option for those that have a backyard but don’t want […]
Planning your Garden by Cynthia Averett
February 11, 2022 By Cynthia Averett, VINES Urban Farm Manager 02/11/22 Before the season begins, having a plan for your garden can help you get the best harvest. […]
Soil Tests by Amelia
February 4, 2022 Did you know that if you live in a home that was built before 1970 or by a major highway, your back yard’s soil may […]
Beginner Plant Recommendations by Cynthia Averett
January 28, 2022 By Cynthia Averett, VINES Urban Farm Manager 01/28/22 New to gardening this year? Some plants can seem intimidating to grow, but there are many plants […]
Ordering Seeds by Amelia
January 21, 2022 It’s time to start thinking about ordering seeds again! For a home garden, we like to keep it simple. Most plants for your garden such […]
Seed Germination Testing by Cynthia Averett
January 14, 2022 Seed Germination Testing By Cynthia Averett, VINES Urban Farm Manager 01/14/22 Do you have seeds left over from last year, maybe even 2 or 3 […]
Happy New Year! by Amelia
January 7, 2022 Happy New Year and welcome to VINES Cultivation Calendar 2022! We look forward to learning with you this year. Next week look out for a […]
See You Next Year! by Amelia
October 29, 2021 Thank you so much for a wonderful first season of Cultivation Calendar! We have enjoyed every second of it and hope you learned from us, […]
Storing Garden Tools for Winter by Amelia
October 22, 2021 The season is winding down and we’re just about ready to start putting our gardening tools away until the weather warms up again in the […]
Putting your Garden To Bed for Winter by Amelia
October 15, 2021 All VINES Community Gardeners must clean out their garden beds by Sunday, October 31st. Even if you’re gardening in your back yard or containers, it’s […]
Cultivation Calendar: How to Harvest and Store Apples and Pears by Amelia
October 8, 2021 Who doesn’t love fruit that grows on trees? I’d imagine quite a few people but I’m going to assume that you’re not one of them […]
Cover Cropping by Cynthia Averett
October 1, 2021 This time of year, many of us are putting our garden beds to rest for the season. Many farmers and gardeners use cover crops in […]
Dividing Perennials in the Fall by Amelia
September 24, 2021 Fall is officially here and our gardens are winding down. As plants die back you may be wondering what you can do in your garden […]
Winter Squash: Harvesting and Storage by Amelia
September 17, 2021 It’s getting to be around that time when the weather starts to cool and daylight becomes more and more scarce. As the grasp the trees […]
Planting Garlic by Cynthia Averett
September 10, 2021 Are you planting any garlic this year? If you are, the time to plant is coming soon! Planting garlic can seem intimidating to new growers, […]
Harvesting Potatoes by Amelia
September 3, 2021 Howdy! Today we’re going to take a look into harvesting potatoes. Apples of the earth, potatoes can be a tricky veggie when it comes time […]
Summer Tomato Preservation by Amelia
August 27, 2021 Ahhhhh, fresh summer tomatoes straight off the vine – what could be better?! There is nothing like going out to the garden, plucking a big […]
Can woodchucks and gardeners co-exist? Learn these tips to prevent groundhog damage! by Amelia
August 20, 2021 They are the scourge of gardeners everywhere: Woodchucks, aka groundhogs, whistle pigs, or Marmota monax wreak havoc in gardens, trampling plants, digging complex burrows, and […]
Wasp Safety and Management by Amelia
August 13, 2021 You may think of wasps as being annoying garden intruders with a painful sting. But there are many wasps that are beneficial insects that not […]
Wet Weather Gardening Tips by Amelia
August 6, 2021 Wet Weather Gardening Tips We’ve had a lot of rain this summer. Wet humid conditions can increase the chance of pests and diseases affecting your […]
Plant Cold Weather Crops for Fall Harvest by Amelia
July 30, 2021 Back in April, we talked about planting crops that could tolerate cold weather. Well, we’re back to talk about it again! Most of the cold […]
Harvesting Garlic by Cynthia Averett
July 23, 2021 If you haven’t already harvested your garlic, it’s about time to do it! Garlic is usually harvested in the Northeast in late July, although this […]
Hand Pollinating Squash Plants by Amelia
July 16, 2021 Have you ever wondered why your summer squash plants produce so many flowers, but never go to fruit? This is a very common problem that […]
Proper Watering by Amelia
July 9, 2021 Keep your plants well-watered in the summer! Check out this 2 minute video: It’s very important to keep your plants well-watered, especially during these hot […]
Japanese Beetles by Amelia
July 2, 2021 Japanese Beetles We’re all familiar with the perils of insects interfering with our gardening. We’ve covered how to deal with flea beetles, aphids, cabbage worms, […]
Gardening Safely During a Heat Advisory: People and Plant Care Tips by Amelia
June 28, 2021 Gardening Safely During a Heat Advisory: People and Plant Tips By Christina Zawerucha, Community Gardens Program Manager There is a heat advisory for Broome County […]
Preventing Your Garden From Bolting (Going to Seed) by Amelia
June 25, 2021 Have you ever had your garden greens go to seed too quickly but can’t figure out why? This is known as “bolting.” Plants bolt when […]
Pest Management: Slugs by Amelia
June 11, 2021 So, slugs have begun to intrude on your garden haven’t they? Although many prefer to feast on dead and decaying matter, there are some varieties […]
All About Garlic Scapes by Amelia
June 4, 2021 When I first learned about garlic scapes, I couldn’t believe my eyes, or my taste buds. I think I still feel the same way today. […]
Plant Pest Profile: Cucumber Beetles by Amelia
May 28, 2021 We have heard reports of cucumber beetles attacking squash, cucumber, and melon seedlings in our community gardens. Here are some quick tips for preventing and […]
Protect Your Garden from Possible Hail by Amelia
May 26, 2021 PROTECT YOURSELF 1.Stay inside during a hail storm!!!! You do not want to risk injury. You are more precious than any plant. PROTECT YOUR PLANTS […]
Transplanting Tomatoes by Amelia
May 21, 2021 The weather has warmed up, you’ve hardened off your tomato seedlings, giving them extra special attention every step of the way, and now it’s time […]
Weeding Out Unwanted Garden Guests by Amelia
May 14, 2021 Plant guests that are aggressive, greedy, noxious or unsafe should be escorted out the door before they ruin the party for everyone! In some cases, […]
Shopping for Transplants by Cynthia Averett
May 7, 2021 Summer is almost here! Even though there is still a threat of frost in May, many gardeners are getting ready to plant their summer crops. […]
Planting Potatoes; IPM Flea Beetles and Aphids by Cynthia Averett
April 30, 2021 We’ve got a lot for you in this post: first, we’ll talk about planting potatoes! Then, we’ll move on to ways to deal with the […]