The Master Gardener Program is volunteer based and dedicated to sharing researched-based and environmentally sound home and gardening information with Tioga County residents. The 25 Master Gardener volunteers are involved in beautification and educational projects all over the county.

Master Gardener volunteers are trained by some of the most knowledgeable professionals and academics in the horticultural field.
Topics of training include:
  Landscapes · Vegetables · Fruits
  Herbs · Houseplants · Soils
  Beneficial and Harmful Insects
  Integrated Pest Management
  Plant Diseases · Wildlife Management · Birds
  Composting · Water Conservation

Master Gardeners answered 274 inquiries in 2007. Call or email with your gardening questions or use the links below to a number of excellent resources.

General Gardening Information · Vegetable Varieties Rated
Recommended Vegetable Varieties NYS · Organic Gardening
Starting Seeds Indoors · Composting · Plant Diseases

Commonly asked Pest Questions Woodchucks · Deer · Bats
Moles · Viburnum Leaf Beetle · Millipedes

The Master Gardeners maintain a beautiful demonstration garden around the Tioga County Office Building at 56 Main Street in Owego.

Master Gardeners planted and maintained plantings at the Court House Square, Draper Park, Court Annex Parking Lot, the new Court Street Bridge, Mayor's Park and planters along Front Street.

Classes for the public are regularly provided on all areas of gardening. Some are free and some require a small fee to cover materials.

The first Saturday of every June the Master Gardeners donate close to 500 plants that are sold on the grounds of the Tioga County Office Building to raise funds for the Master Gardener Program.

Every year the Master Gardeners arrange a self-guided tour of beautiful vegetable, perennial, water and annual gardens of all shapes and sizes in Tioga County. The 2008 tour will feature the Newark Valley area. A reception will held by at a private garden following the tour. Call 687-4020 or email for more information

Master Gardeners assist residents who rent plots in the community gardens in Waverly and Owego.
The Waverly Community Garden is behind the Tioga Nursing Facility and is accessible by Ball Street, and the Owego Community Garden is behind the Open Door Mission on North Avenue.