Gardening Conversations: Four seasons of gardening with Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy. Matha Foley hosts

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Gardening Conversations: Four seasons of gardening with Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy. Matha Foley hosts episodes:

05.18.2020
A new start for Saranac Lake's community garden
Volunteers with Common Ground Gardens, a community garden with locations around Saranac Lake, are hoping to reopen the Old Lake Colby garden site next weekend. The revamped site, with new fencing and garden plots, will be the sole site for...
04.13.2020
Joyful Noise: father and daughter planting a "victory garden" in Peru
Chuck and Kris Minster moved from the Finger Lakes to Peru in Clinton County in October of 2019, to be closer to their daughter, Rebecca 'Becky' Shuman. Their houses are just a few miles apart. But Beckyâs husband works in a...
12.31.2018
A final gardening conversation with horticulturist Amy Ivy
For more than 20 years, horticulturist Amy Ivy has shared her expertise and love of gardening in conversation with Martha Foley each Monday morning on The Eight O'Clock Hour. Amy is retiring from her job with Cornell Cooperative Extension this...
12.17.2018
Gifts for the "green thumb" in your life
Arrangements and centerpieces and cut flowers may be a better gift for the non-gardener; live plants can bring a burden of guilt. but they can make a nice gift for the green thumbs in your life. Amy Ivy recommends cyclamens,...
12.03.2018
Houseplants (almost) guaranteed to brighten winter days
The Winter Solstice is three weeks away. The sun is low in the sky; days are short and getting shorter. Cold drizzle and slush aren't helping. Houseplants can be an antidote, even for those of us without much, or any,...
11.12.2018
With winter, gardening goes indoors
Not only is it getting consistently frosty, we've had a string of wet days. Conditions haven't been ideal for gardening outdoors. But there can be a whole host of chores involving plants and dirt indoors. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy took...
11.05.2018
Time to put down the hedge clippers!
Shrubs and trees are on the way into winter. They're literally shutting down for the coming cold. So it's a bad time to do any unnecessary pruning or trimming of ornamental shrubs, hedges and the like. [full story]
10.29.2018
Grasses are stand-outs in the fall garden
There are a few blossoms left in the perennial garden, if you're lucky and have a really hardy mum or showy Autumn Joy sedum. But, mostly, what's left are dramatic dried seed heads and foliage that turns bright as the...
10.22.2018
Those fallen leaves - blessing, or curse?
If it's a matter of raking and disposal, the thick fall of leaves from your maples or oaks can be a real headache. But gardeners can turn that work to real advantage, as mulch and compost. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy...
10.15.2018
Get ready for frost
We're expecting a killing frost across the region this week. Time to dig up and/or bring in plants you want to keep through the winter. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy takes cuttings from her geraniums - it's very easy to propagate those...
10.08.2018
Get set - it's go time to plant garlic
Garlic is one of those spring bulbs you plant in the fall, like daffodils, tulips and crocuses. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy offers lots of detail in this week's conversation. What kind, how, where and how deep, and how to snug...
09.17.2018
Raised beds - the basics
What are they? Why bother? And, how do you make them? Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy answers the basic questions of raised beds: what? why? and how? And she adds in a few details, too, about how big, how high, and...
09.10.2018
Cleaning out. Looking ahead.
In mid-September some of a gardener's work is deconstruction, some is preparation, and some is just thinking. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy is pulling out spent zucchini; Martha Foley's getting rid of some really tired tomatoes and hoping the remainder will...
09.03.2018
Keeping annuals blooming and other late season tips and chores
The late warm weather helps extend the blooming season. Deadheading annuals like zinnia will also help. You can divide perennials that are not in bloom and thin out and move around early bloomers like lilies and iris. And it's a...
08.27.2018
What's your garden favorite in late summer?
Gardens have a distinctly different look as August winds down. There's usually a lot of browned-out foliage to clean out (if you've been away or been too busy). But whether it's vegetables or flowers, there are some old, and new favorites...
08.20.2018
The joy of gardening in late summer
Are you back from out of town, or finally able to focus on the late summer garden? Are there parts of the garden overrun by weeds? How can you keep some of the perennials looking their...
08.13.2018
August in the garden: time to hoard the garlic!
Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulturist Amy Ivy says now is the time to start thinking about next year's garlic crop. Her advice, if you're planning to use your own seed garlic, is to put aside a few of your...
08.06.2018
It's bugs and beetle time in the garden
There's lots of talk among gardeners right now about that annual, persistent, pesky visitor, the Japanese Beetle. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy describes them as "little tanks" - hard shelled, slow, and largely impervious to our weaponry in defense of vegetables...
07.30.2018
Tuning up tomatoes for ripening, and a little planting for fall
Lots of heat and sun, and just enough rain has given most tomato plants are real boost. [full story]
07.16.2018
In the garden: Dry, drier, but not yet driest
The upside: this is great sunny summer weather for swimming, boating, picnics and parades. But gardeners' flowers and vegetables are bearing the brunt. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy talks about one dry-weather tomato problem, blossom end rot, and what to do...
06.18.2018
Early warning on late blight, and how do biennials work?
No details yet, but late blight - which can devastate tomato and potato plants - has been confirmed in several tomato pants in Onondaga County. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy says more information should be coming soon. Call your local Cooperative...
06.04.2018
A cool spell this week could pause the growing season
Just when we thought the cool air had left the garden, the forecast this week is predicting overnight temps in the 40's. Horticulturist Amy Ivy says some veggies, like lettuce and spinach, thrive in the cooler weather. But it could...
05.28.2018
Plants need room to grow
It sounds simple, right? But being realistic about the space a slender transplant will need as it grows to maturity, and keeping to the space recommendations isn't. [full story]
05.25.2018
It's all things lilac at Moore's Hill Farm near Potsdam
One of the joys of spring is the appearance, and fragrance, of lilacs. Most old farmsteads and gardens have at least one lilac tree. A Potsdam couple has started a second career of bringing lilacs back to more yards. [full...
05.25.2018
It's all things lilac at Moore's Hill Farm near Potsdam
One of the joys of spring is the appearance, and fragrance, of lilacs. Most old farmsteads and gardens have at least one lilac tree. A Potsdam couple has started a second career of bringing lilacs back to more yards. [full...
05.21.2018
Take good care of those transplants
Whether you're putting in flats of tender "starts" or one treasured, rare perennial, TLC counts.Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy has tips on being efficient, and effective. She says prepare the soil and have water standing by. And if a plant is...
05.07.2018
How to keep hanging flower baskets looking their best
Sunday is Mothers' Day, and maybe you're thinking of one of those hanging flower baskets as a gift. Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulturist Amy Ivy has some tips for buying and maintaining the "wow" factor for hanging flower baskets.You could buy...
04.30.2018
How to plant a tree. And not.
Right now is a perfect time to plant a tree, that is, before the leaves are out. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy has tips on how to choose a tree for transplanting, whether you're looking in your own woods or at...
04.23.2018
Time (almost) to plant peas
Not just peas, but other cool-loving things like arugula, onions, lettuce, spinach - if the soil temperature a few inches down is 50F. That's according to Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy.She shares her favorite pea, also tips on using a microbial...
04.09.2018
Pruning basics: fruit
It seems like winter won't give up, with snow showers continuing and overnight lows in the 20s and below the last week. But the days are getting longer. There's birdsong in the early morning and buds are swelling. For gardeners,...
04.02.2018
The good news-bad news: it's yardwork time
Yup. If the snow is gone and the ground is fairly firm, we can get outside for some judicious yardwork now. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy spent Saturday raking. Gently. [full story]
03.26.2018
Time to sign on: CSAs are gearing up for the summer
Now's the time to join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm if you want to enjoy weeks of fresh vegetables and flowers...without necessarily growing them yourself. [full story]
03.05.2018
Itching to start seeds indoors? It's time - for onions
If you're planning for onions in your home garden this summer, you're looking at some deadlines. Right now is the time to start seeds indoors. That, and other points on the onion timeline from Amy Ivy. [full story]
02.26.2018
"Food from the Farm" brings homegrown tastes to Plattsburgh
Your pantry and root cellar might be running low on home grown, but there'll be plenty to see and taste Saturday in Plattsburgh, at the 9th annual Food from the Farm day.It's a great day to catch up with friends...
02.12.2018
To start seeeds indoors, you need the right stuff
Tops on Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy's list are grow lights. You can assemble your own from common shop lights. Put them on a timer (16 hours of light a day), and be prepared to adjust the distance from the young...
01.22.2018
Good information can up your gardening game
Before the catalog orders, before the big tab at the nursery, now is a good time to invest in some good information.Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy suggests gardening workshops, websites to look for, and books to help make better plans for...
01.15.2018
Did plants sleep through the 80-degree temperature swing? Maybe.
Temperatures around minus 20 Thursday morning rose to 60 degrees above on Friday last week. That was a stunning swing. But just maybe it didn't hurt plants as much as we might think. By Friday night, the temperature was plunging...
01.08.2018
Trees, shrubs help wildlife get through the winter
Deep cold and snow cover make life hard for wildlife. Birds cluster at the feeders. Deer come closer. Amy Ivy watched turkeys cruise her yard over the weekend. Martha Foley's cedar trees are full of chickadees, juncos, tree sparrows and...
01.01.2018
Extreme cold may be harder on your indoor plants than your garden
Despite the extreme temperatures, December weather has had a fairly healthy pattern for the garden - steady cold to keep things dormant and a good snow cover for insulation. But your overworked heating system in sub-zero temperatures can take a...
12.18.2017
Holiday gift tips for green thumbs
Chances are you have at least one green thumb to shop for this holiday season. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy has some ideas for gardening tools as gifts. [full story]
12.11.2017
Holiday gift tips for brown thumbs
This is the season for giving and getting holiday plants and indoor greenery. But what about recipients who don't have a "green thumb"?Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy has some can't-fail gift ideas for the holidays, including floral arrangements and natural...
12.04.2017
Getting real: holiday decorating with fresh greenery
A front door or porch decked out for the holidays speaks to the spirit of the season. Amy Ivy, horticulturist with Cornell Cooperative in Clinton and Essex counties, shares some tips for finding and arranging winter greenery, including wreaths,...
11.23.2017
Creating a meal from an Adirondack school yard - just in time for Thanksgiving!
North Country School-Camp Treetops is one of the six founding members of the Edible Schoolyard Project, a national initiative of chef and food activist Alice Waters. The goal of program is to give students the knowledge and skills to make...
11.20.2017
Garlic? Spring bulbs? It isn't TOO late
Raise your hand if you didn't get your garlic/daffodils/tulips in the ground before the cold set in. Fear not. With some tolerance for working outdoors in chilly soil, you still have a chance. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy and NCPR's Martha...
11.13.2017
You've got to trick bulbs into flowering indoors
Word of the day from Amy Ivy: ver-nal-i-za-tion. noun. the cooling of seed during germination in order to accelerate flowering when it is planted.It's the whole thing in forcing spring bulbs to flower indoors. You've got to simulate winter's work...
11.06.2017
Tulips and all - spring bulbs go in the ground now
Now's the time to plant bulbs for spring flowers. Tulips, daffodils and all the littler bulbs go in the ground before it gets much colder.Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy tells why she likes daffodils and what to do to protect tulips...
10.30.2017
It's prime time to compost
Drifts of fallen leaves, plus the last round of lawn clippings, plus the remains of the frosted vegetable garden, plus a few shots of good soil - it all adds up to a great opportunity for compost.Whether you're...
10.23.2017
Warm fall? Get a headstart on spring
Yes, it's still unseasonably warm. But parts of the North Country have had a killing frost.Perennials took a heavy hit in Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy's garden.That prompted her to start the annual fall clean up, and some strategic weeding...
10.16.2017
Not too early, not too late - timing the garlic
The thing about timing when to plant garlic, according to Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy, is that you want to hit a sweet spot between too warm, and too cold. If the weather is too warm, the garlic might send up...
10.09.2017
Don't waste those leaf piles!
You know what they say: one person's trash is another person's treasure. So it is with the tons of leaves that fall on our lawns every autumn. As they are doing right now! Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy argues that, despite...

What's Gardening Conversations: Four seasons of gardening with Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy. Matha Foley hosts about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Gardening Conversations: Four seasons of gardening with Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy. Matha Foley hosts episodes:

A new start for Saranac Lake's community garden

Joyful Noise: father and daughter planting a "victory garden" in Peru

A final gardening conversation with horticulturist Amy Ivy

Gifts for the "green thumb" in your life

Houseplants (almost) guaranteed to brighten winter days

With winter, gardening goes indoors

Time to put down the hedge clippers!

Grasses are stand-outs in the fall garden

Those fallen leaves - blessing, or curse?

Get ready for frost

Get set - it's go time to plant garlic

Raised beds - the basics

Cleaning out. Looking ahead.

Keeping annuals blooming and other late season tips and chores

What's your garden favorite in late summer?

The joy of gardening in late summer

August in the garden: time to hoard the garlic!

It's bugs and beetle time in the garden

Tuning up tomatoes for ripening, and a little planting for fall

In the garden: Dry, drier, but not yet driest

Early warning on late blight, and how do biennials work?

A cool spell this week could pause the growing season

Plants need room to grow

It's all things lilac at Moore's Hill Farm near Potsdam

It's all things lilac at Moore's Hill Farm near Potsdam

Take good care of those transplants

How to keep hanging flower baskets looking their best

How to plant a tree. And not.

Time (almost) to plant peas

Pruning basics: fruit

The good news-bad news: it's yardwork time

Time to sign on: CSAs are gearing up for the summer

Itching to start seeds indoors? It's time - for onions

"Food from the Farm" brings homegrown tastes to Plattsburgh

To start seeeds indoors, you need the right stuff

Good information can up your gardening game

Did plants sleep through the 80-degree temperature swing? Maybe.

Trees, shrubs help wildlife get through the winter

Extreme cold may be harder on your indoor plants than your garden

Holiday gift tips for green thumbs

Holiday gift tips for brown thumbs

Getting real: holiday decorating with fresh greenery

Creating a meal from an Adirondack school yard - just in time for Thanksgiving!

Garlic? Spring bulbs? It isn't TOO late

You've got to trick bulbs into flowering indoors

Tulips and all - spring bulbs go in the ground now

It's prime time to compost

Warm fall? Get a headstart on spring

Not too early, not too late - timing the garlic

Don't waste those leaf piles!