Invasives in catalogs?

Most plant catalogs and on-line businesses deal in reputably grown items, but a few are selling plants that are either officially invasive or are termed "thugs" in our gardens. Code words to watch for?

• Spreads fast
• Great for erosion control
• Covers ground
• Fast growing
• Assertive
• Grows a lush hedge in only two years
• Forms dense colonies
• “You can’t kill it!”
If you see these phrases in plant descriptions, stay away!

Giant hogweed in Mahopc (Croton Falls Road)
two years ago - has been controlled by Highway Dept. Sold
in the U.S. as an ornamental plant since the
1920s!

Cornell Chronicle: Figs kill when wasps don't pollinate

Cornell Chronicle: Figs kill when wasps don't pollinate

As horticulturists, we often recommend that gardeners give plants what they need to help them thrive. You know, shade for shade-loving plants; acid soil for acid-soil-loving plants. But who knew plants could kill if they're not satisfied?

Growing Any Interesting Veggies?

Renee's Garden Catalog came in this week with some beautiful and very interesting vegetables. Some are pretty enough for the front garden! Check out a cutting lettuce called "Sea of Red" and a pretty contaimer lettuce, "Sweetie Baby Romaine." Also look at a yellow haricot vert, French-style string bean that is a pale gold color. http://www.reneesgarden.com/

Will you be growing anything fabulous this year? Let us know and we can keep track of your success with you!

Spring Garden School March 6

Just what you need - a day of garden learning just in time to prepare your vegetable and landscape gardens for a bountiful, beautiful season. Four classes will get you started:

• Seed Starting
• All-Natural Pest Control
• Animals-Animals
• Garden Design Basics

Just $15 per person and you can save $5 by bringing a friend. Register two people for $25. The fee includes all classes, handouts, hands-on learning and great fun! Download registration form at http://www.cce.cornell.edu/putnam

-- Dianne Olsen

Cornell Small Farms Program is looking for an Extension Associate

The Cornell Small Farms Program is seeking an Extension Associate to join our staff. To view the position description online, visit http://www.hr.cornell.edu/jobs/ Then, click on: External Applicants > Faculty and Non-Faculty Instruction,Research & Extension Positions > Job Number 11761-Extension Associate. Interviews will begin late January.

Plants can "feel" temperatures changing

Just as many researchers use white mice in labs, plant researcher use the Arabidopsis thaliana because its simple life form can show significant changes in pH, soil nutrients, air pollution and more. Scientists in the United Kingdom used it recently to show that plants can not only sense temperature change but also adapt to these changes by certain movements in the way their DNA is packaged. The research may result in being able to breed plants resistant to heat or cold. For the full story:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100107132543.htm

--Dianne Olsen

Planning on Tomatoes this year: Late Blight Q & A

The seed catalogs are rolling in, and with them comes a gardener's hope and excitement . . . a "this'll be the best garden ever" enthusiasm. If last year's tomato troubles are getting you down, follow this link to a short article on Late Blight, from the Northeastern IPM center, and learn how and where the pathogen overwinters, and which tomato varieties are currently believed to be most resistant.

http://northeastipm.org/newsandreports/2009fall/Fall09_LateBlight.html

Rank your favorite vegetables

The Cornell Citizen Science folk have put together a fabulous website to help home gardeners share their successes (and failures) in the vegetable garden. Find out what other people are growing and share your stories of tasty tomatoes and bouncing bean harvests. http://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu/

Cornell Tested Veggies

Vegetable gardening was so frustrating last year! Rain, rain and more rain and late blight of tomato . . . and that was just the headlines. Try again this year - it will definitely be better. To help gardeners pick the most successful hybrids, Cornell tests hundreds each year. The list of the best for 2010 is available now at http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/vegetables/vegvar.pdf