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Extending the Growing Season in Northern NY

Spring is here which means local greenhouses and high tunnels are filling quickly. Some businesses focus on growing transplants of flowers, vegetables, and herbs for sale to the public and others plant into the ground for a bountiful harvest later in the season. 

Last month, 19 farmers and gardeners participated in the final 2023 Ag and Food Producer Academy course organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension, Planning and Maintaining a High Tunnel or Greenhouse. The group was eager to learn how to incorporate protected structures on their own property, to extend the growing season and grow crops that otherwise might be challenging in northern New York. 

A wealth of experience was shared throughout the three online sessions and field trip day to local greenhouse businesses and high tunnels. Here are a few tidbits we gleaned from our course instructors and field trip hosts. 

  1. Determining Your Structure Size and Soil Management Plan

Judson Reid, Course Instructor and Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Vegetable Specialist emphasized proper structure size and soil management tools. Jud explained that it’s sometimes easier to start with a larger high tunnel or greenhouse so you can grow into it, rather than trying to scale up from a smaller one as your operation evolves. He walked course participants through considerations to determine the correct structure size for their business. Jud also strongly recommended having a soil management plan.

A man stands in a high tunnel between plants, speaking to a group.
Jud discussed air circulation in high tunnels and greenhouses during the field trip.

Soil tests are crucial to manage soil health and he suggests including a fertilizer injector into your system as a cost effective and efficient way to make adjustments to grow robust plants.

2. Finding Funding

Lindsey Pashow, Guest Instructor and Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Agriculture and Business Development and Marketing Specialist, discussed searching and applying for grant funding based on your farm and high tunnel or greenhouse needs. She suggested making a list of your needs and starting with internet searches, finding the past timings and deadlines of grants, and looking at past projects to see if your project is similar and a good fit. 

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Meet Nancy Alessi, Master Gardener Volunteer

With a new cohort of Master Gardener Volunteers beginning to serve their community, we’d like to introduce them (AND YOU!) to the group of MGVs who have sustained this program for the last several years. Meet Nancy Alessi, who hosted the MGVs for a garden tour in mid June of last year. Enjoy the photos from that inspiring visit!

What is your background and how did you become a gardener?

You might call me a ‘late bloomer’ since I didn’t begin to garden until my mid-twenties. Growing up in Philadelphia, I didn’t have the opportunity to garden, though I did have the great fortune to live across from Pennypack Park, an amazing sanctuary of towering mature forests, wildlife and wetlands in the midst of the city. A fascination with nature nurtured from a young age propelled me to study biology in college. I focused on zoology, not having yet discovered my passion for botany.

As newlyweds my late husband and I yearned to escape the city and find a refuge. Four decades ago, we purchased 50 woodland acres and an abandoned, ‘rustic’ log cabin way back in the woods in Russell, NY. With enthusiasm we set about growing our own food, raising goats to produce milk, and training 2 bull calves to become draft animals. Our enthusiasm was only exceeded by our lack of experience! And so began my gardening life in earnest. We scoured books and quizzed new friends and neighbors with our many questions. No internet back then, and there were as many different answers as there were questions, so we learned to observe and experiment on our own and seek counsel from experienced gardeners. Only once did I make the mistake of planting a massive bed of zucchini!Nancy's perennial beds

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A Basic Guide to Pruning your Apple Trees

We’re getting to the end of pruning season… but there’s still time! If you’ve ever wondered why late winter / early spring is the ideal time to do most apple pruning, it’s because the tree is dormant, and there aren’t airborne pathogens around. As a bonus, the branch structure is easier to see without the leaves. Pruning is necessary to shape your tree, prevent disease, and encourage the productive fruiting wood, which is 2-3 years old. It is best done annually, as mature trees that are left unpruned can become unproductive. 

So… where should you begin?

Stand back and look over your tree from a slight distance. If there’s anything glaring – say a branch that is dead, diseased, or damaged, remove that first, back to a healthy joint (see advice below on where and how to cut). After removing any diseased branches, and after pruning each tree, clean your tools with rubbing alcohol or other disinfectant to avoid spreading pathogens to other branches or other trees. Crossed branches can result in rubbing and injury particularly in high winds or when weighed down by fruit so eliminate one of them. Any branches that are growing toward the center of the tree will not serve the tree’s need for sunlight and airflow. Also remove drooping branches, which are often shaded, reach too close to the ground when laden, and create mowing challenges.

And when should you stop?

Whether you’re working on a young tree or a mature, neglected one, it’s important to remember that you should never remove more than ⅓ of the tree. Exceeding this can cause excessive vegetative growth. So if it’s clear from the start that there’s a large branch that needs to go (because it’s dead, diseased, damaged, or interfering with the shape of the tree), then cut only that one and call it a day, no matter how tempting it may be to continue pruning. You can get to the minor cuts next year. Keep in mind, you can easily reach that ⅓ rule even by cutting a few smaller branches, especially on a young tree. Stepping back occasionally can keep your pruning in perspective and is essential for maintaining an overall balance of the tree.

High school students pose in front of an apple tree after pruning this spring
Agriculture Studies Academy helped prune the orchard at CCE this spring

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