Otsego County Master Gardener Annual Plant Sale returns May 20, 2023

Rain or shine, the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Otsego County will hold their annual plant sale on Saturday, May 20th from 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cornell Cooperative Extension Education and Outreach Center, 123 Lake Street in Cooperstown. 

The selections at the OMG Plant Sale were chosen with local gardeners in mind. We drew upon research from the Cornell Vegetable and Flower Trials, and the All-America Selections Trials (AAS) to grow a wide array of highly-rated plants that will be most successful in our area. Many are deer-resistant and/or disease-resistant, and feature varieties we have grown and loved ourselves.

A wide variety of vegetables, annual flowers, herbs, and perennials known to grow well in Otsego County will be featured at reasonable prices.  Choosing plant varieties not frequently found in local retail establishments, Master Gardener volunteers cultivated from seed heirloom and blight-resistant tomatoes, deer-resistant and pollinator-attracting plants, and a few unusual varieties they love in their gardens.  All plants sold have been planted in sterile potting media. Unlike in past years, Master Gardener Volunteers will not be digging perennials from their gardens, in an effort to avoid the spread of jumping worms. However, a limited selection of house plants from Master Gardeners’ own collections will be offered.

Cornell-trained Master Gardener Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about planting, nurturing, and harvesting, and to assist in plant selections.  Customers are encouraged to bring boxes to carry home purchases.  Cash or checks are preferred, although credit cards are accepted.  For more information and continuing updates on plants offered, follow the webpage CCEschoharie-otsego.org/OMG-Plant-Sale.  Gardeners may also leave a voicemail message at 607-547-2536 ext. 228 for questions. 

Proceeds from the sale will benefit the educational outreach of the Master Gardeners Volunteer Program of Otsego County.  

Visitors to the Plant Sale will be pleased to see new a new parking area, raised beds, and fencing which are key elements of a transformative change at the Association’s headquarters.  This project, which has been developing for the past nine years, reconfigures CCE’s grounds into a center for garden-based learning that will dramatically improve the educational use of the site.   Largely due to the efforts of Volunteer Master Gardeners, the new gardens will also include inground beds, a garden house & rain garden.

For information about Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie and Otsego County’s community programs and events, go to http://cceschoharie-otsego.org  Stay connected to Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CCESchoharieOtsego/  & follow CCE Master Gardeners’ daily postings at https://www.facebook.com/CCEOtsegoMG/

Gardeners may also want to plan a visit to The Farmers’ Museum Heritage Plant Sale a week later during the Memorial Day weekend. 

Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities. 

###