By Blake Jackson
Gardening often involves trial and error, with every new crop presenting a chance for success or disappointment. To help reduce the guesswork, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Master Gardener volunteers across New York are evaluating vegetable varieties to determine which perform best in different regions of the state.
“That’s part of gardening,” said Noel Harradine, a master gardener volunteer with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Wayne County.
Harradine participates in CCE’s statewide Vegetable Variety Trial Garden program, which is active in 37 counties this year. Volunteers grow selected vegetable varieties in demonstration gardens, collecting information on yield, flavor, and ease of cultivation. Their findings are shared with Cornell researchers, extension staff, seed companies, and the public through an online database.
“This is one of our signature programs for master gardeners,” said Ashley Miller Helmholdt, the adult program leader for CCE’s Cornell Garden-Based Learning, which supports the master gardener volunteer program statewide.
“It connects people, engages the community and of course promotes healthy food access.”
The gardens also serve as educational spaces for visitors of all ages while supplying fresh produce for community meals and local food pantries. Researchers benefit as well, using volunteer feedback to guide future breeding efforts.
“That information is really helpful for us to set our breeding priorities,” Assistant Professor Greg Vogel said. “The vegetable variety program allows for a two-way movement of information, from the community to campus and then back, because the master gardeners are serving as educators in their communities.”
Since 2013, the program has highlighted vegetables from different cultural traditions, introducing gardeners to unique varieties from around the world.
“It’s broadening our understanding of different cultures and regions through growing and eating food, which I think is a unique thing, especially in upstate New York,” Marcie Foster, CCE educator in Schoharie and Otsego counties said.
Beyond research, volunteers value the friendships and lifelong learning the program encourages.
“I think the social aspect is the biggest part of it, and the constant learning,” Harradine said.
“There’s a big surge in people wanting to learn these skills that maybe their grandparents knew,” Helmholdt said.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-joshua-resnick
Categories: New York, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables, Education