Home Gardening

Cornell Cooperative Extension-Broome County (CCE-BC) provides answers to your gardening and insect questions through the following programs:

Horticulture Response Line  aka  The Grow Line (607) 772-8958

Open Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00PM., from May until mid-October. During these times a trained Master Gardener Volunteer, Master Gardener Intern will answer your horticulture and pest control questions as accurately as possible utilizing Cornell University Recommendations.

Diagnostics (607) 772-8953
Cornell Cooperative Extension-Broome County offers a diagnostic service to the consumer to identify insects and plant diseases and offer environmentally responsible options for control.  The Horticulture Educator and other qualified Extension Staff can provide identification and control options for insects and plant diseases. If it is felt that an accurate diagnosis cannot be given at our office,  you have the option to have your specimen sent to Cornell University for analysis for a fee. Contact CCE-BC for instructions on how to collect a sample for diagnosis.

Soil Testing (607) 772-8953
Cornell Cooperative Extension-Broome County offers two types of soil testing:

Testing for soil pH only – Soil PH test kits are for sale at the CCE-BC Information Center for a fee of $27.00. Cash or check. The kit comes with do-it-yourself instructions for testing your own soil.

Complete soil nutrient analysis – Soil samples can be brought to the Information Center at CCE-BC where they will be packaged and sent to a soil test lab, Agri-One, in Ithaca. The fee is $23.00. Cash or check. Contact CCE-BC at (607) 772-8953 for instructions on how to properly collect a soil sample.

Classes & Hands-on Workshops
A series of Horticulture Classes and Events will be held throughout the year inside the building or outside in Cutler Botanic Gardens. Pre-registration is required for all classes unless otherwise noted.

To see a list of classes and to register online using a credit card click here.

You can also register  by calling  (607) 772-8953 or  email Dan at dec24@cornell.edu

Speakers Bureau (607) 772-8953 or ljs322@cornell.edu

Cornell Cooperative Extension-Broome County and Cutler Botanic Garden offers speakers on a variety of topics on a time-available basis. Please schedule at least eight weeks in advance. These presentations vary from 30 minutes to one hour in length, but can be adapted to suit the audience. Audience participation is encouraged. Speaker’s Bureaus are are $25 per topic for a groups of 50 or less. $50 for groups of 50 or more. Checks can be made payable to: CCE-BC. Proceeds support Cutler Botanic Garden.  

Last updated April 6, 2023