Grow Organically

If you are looking for a one-stop resource on organic vegetable disease and insect control, check out the Resource Guide for Organic Insect and Disease Management. This publication, while intended for commercial organic vegetable growers, points out cultural, biological, and chemical controls for common insects and diseases that trouble commercial crops and home gardens alike.

http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pp/resourceguide/

Giant Hogweed:

Do Not Touch this Plant!

Giant Hogweed, Heracleum mantagazzianum, is a non-native plant with irritating sap. The sap, combines with moisture or sweat, and in the presence of sunlight causes stinging, burning, blistering rashes, that can lead to scarring and blindness.

Brought in as an ornamental garden plant, it has spread to natural areas, following watercourses and popping up along stream beds. It is often confused with our native Cow Parsnip, Heracleum lanatum, which also triggers the same type of skin reaction (Photophytodermatitis).

If you see this noxious plant or suspect that what you are looking at is Giant Hogweed, please call us here at Cornell Cooperative Extension. Often a digital photo can help us eliminate look-alike confusion. If it is Giant Hogweed, we can then confirm its location and report it to the proper authorities.

For more information, visit this NYS Department of Environmental Conservation website with maps, photos and links:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/39809.html

or this link from Cornell Cooperative Extension:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/ghpestalertcce.pdf