CCE Tompkins County Announces 41st Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County’s Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale will take place Friday, May 19, from 12 to 6 pm at the Ithaca Farmers Market. One of the Finger Lakes' most highly anticipated gardening events, the annual sale has been organized since 1982 by CCE Tompkins County. Admission is free, and visitors are encouraged to bring carts or wagons to aid in transporting their plant purchases to their cars.

The Spring Plant Sale features a wide variety of vendors who offer specialty plants and gardening advice on topics ranging from growing rock garden plants to selecting native species for the garden. Plants for sale include organically grown and heirloom vegetable transplants, colorful annuals, fragrant herbs, hanging baskets, small flowering shrubs, hardy roses, fruit crops, trees, evergreens and specialty perennials.

Master Gardener Volunteers from CCE Tompkins County and other community groups participate in the sale to raise funds and create awareness of their programs. Over twenty vendors have already registered.

“Every year this is such a wonderful and energizing way to start the growing season,” said Marissa Nolan, CCE Tompkins County’s Horticulture Team Leader. “The Plant Sale connects people of all ages with local farmers, gardeners, nurseries and related resources. Bringing people together is such an important part of our work, and this is one of our favorite ways of making that happen.”

Master Gardener Volunteers, who are central to organizing the event, regularly assist with horticulture classes and events and respond to questions on flowers, fruits, herbs, houseplants, lawns, plant health and nutrition, plant identification, pruning, soils, trees and shrubs, vegetables, wildlife and more through the CCE Tompkins County Growline. Members of the public can reach the Growline at growline1@gmail.com or 607-272-2292 extension 161.

Last updated August 22, 2023