Cornell Cooperative Extension

Suffolk County
Spring Gardening School

Community Outreach Programs

Pollinator photo

Pollinators

Spring Gardening School

Master Gardener Volunteers

little girl with sunflower

Children love being in the garden!

MGV Class of 2023

Master Gardener Class of 2023

Green Thumbs

Summer Camp

master gardener
MGV at SPG Plant Sale
Children's Garden
Community Garden
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Gardening

We offer gardening events throughout the year, whether programs at libraries in person and via Zoom or full day programs such as SPRING GARDENING SCHOOL on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Check  the right margin for gardening program listings in the EVENTS calendar. 

CCE Suffolk offers gardening courses as well. 

Coastal Gardening will be offered January-March 2026 to identify best gardening practices given our proximity to the Long Island Sound and other bodies of water. Coastal Gardening is open to all Suffolk residents.

Master Gardener Training is a 16-week course offered March-June to train gardeners around a full range of gardening matters. The expectation is that those trained will volunteer in their communities.

Joy of Gardening is a 10-week course, wholly online, for beginning gardeners offered from September-November.

Contact Roxanne Zimmer at rz378@cornell.edu for gardening course information.

Year-round Cornell Cooperative Extension offers gardening support services.

 Homeowners can bring soil and plant samples to our Diagnostic Lab in Riverhead and at Bayard Cutting Arboretum (April through October). Questions can be answered on the Horticulture Hotline (631) 727-4126, Mondays-Fridays, 9am-noon all year long.

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Coastal Gardening

The COASTAL GARDENING course offering is a mix of in-person sessions, online learning and field trips.

Read more
harvesting carrots and cabbage

Time to plant a Victory Garden!

CCE's Community Horticulture is offering ONLINE gardening programming on this and many other gardening topics.

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Green Thumbs

Green Thumbs Summer Camp

Help your children (ages 5-12) cultivate a connection to nature and plants in 7 weeks of discovery.

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River and Roots

Community Gardens

There are many community gardens throughout Suffolk County. This list is just a few of them.

Read more

Contact

Roxanne Zimmer
Community Horticulture Specialist
rz378@cornell.edu
631-727-7850 x 11215

Last updated December 10, 2025

Gardening

Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Plant Hardiness Zone Map

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

Gardening Links

Cornell Gardening Resources
http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/

Gardening Pamphlets

Home Composting
Composting is the most practical and convenient way to handle your yard wastes. Read more...

Waterwise Gardening

The waterwise gardening tips inside this brochure are ways to preserve the quality of our water resources. Read more...

Garden Programs

Events

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GARDENING COURSES

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The Joy of Gardening

Learn more about flowers, foliage, garden design and other gardening topics in this 10 week course September through November. The wholly online course is available on your schedule. Suggested field trips and garden makeovers.

Cornell botanic gardens 2012 1

Visit Cornell University's The Lost Ladybug Project online and learn how your photos can help scientists keep track of both new and native Ladybug species in your neighborhood.