UConn Extension is now accepting applications for its 2026 Master Gardener Program, a comprehensive educational initiative that combines horticultural training with community service.

Applications must be submitted by Friday, October 17, 2025, to the location where applicants wish to take classes—either a county Extension Center or the Bartlett Arboretum. The Litchfield County cohort offers a flexible option to attend the classroom portion either in-person or virtually online, though all other program components must be completed in person.

Accepted applicants will be notified by Monday, November 3, 2025, and must complete registration and submit the $495.00 program fee by Friday, December 5, 2025. Classes begin the week of January 11, 2026.

The program includes over 100 hours of classroom instruction delivered online over 16 weeks, with weekly live sessions held from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Coursework includes quizzes, a graded exam, and a plant identification and research project due by August 2026. Participants must also attend one of five in-person summer diagnostic sessions and complete a final diagnostic exam and essay by September 2026.

In addition to coursework, participants must complete 30 hours of in-office service at a UConn Extension Center or the Bartlett Arboretum, and 30 hours of approved educational outreach or community projects, all by the end of September 2026. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit mastergardener.uconn.edu for more information and to explore related offerings such as the Fundamentals of Home Gardening online course. For questions, contact the program at mastergardener@uconn.edu or call 860-486-7178.