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.

Interested in our 2026 Master Gardener certification program? The applications will be available the third week in August. In the meantime, explore our Fundamentals of Home Gardening online courses at http://s.uconn.edu/store.

UConn Extension is excited to announce that the Fundamentals of Home Gardening online course, designed to help gardening enthusiasts of all levels cultivate thriving home gardens, is available for home gardeners who want to expand their knowledge and skills. The course is divided into four modules covering essential gardening topics:

• CORE – Water, Soils, and Botany
• ENVIRONMENTALS – Plants and the Environment, Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Pest Management
• FOODS – Growing Vegetables, Tree Fruits & Berries, and Herbs
• ORNAMENTALS – Herbaceous Ornamentals, Woody Plants, Turf, and Native-Nonnative vs. Invasive Plants

Participants will learn from UConn Extension experts and complete the course at their own pace. Whether you’re new to gardening or looking to refine your skills, this course provides the essential knowledge needed for success. Unlike the UConn Extension Master Gardener Program, the Fundamentals of Home Gardening course does not have a volunteer component. It is a fully online, self-paced program designed for individuals who want to deepen their gardening knowledge without the commitment of volunteer service. “Gardening is not just about planting; it’s about understanding the science behind it,” said Bonnie Burr, assistant director for UConn Extension. “This course gives participants the foundation they need to create and maintain healthy, productive gardens.”

Benefits of Gardening Participants in this course will not only gain practical gardening skills but also experience the many benefits gardening provides:

• Health & Well-being: Gardening is a great form of physical activity, reduces stress, and improves mental well-being.
• Food Security: Learning to grow your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs ensures access to fresh, nutritious produce.
• Environmental Impact: Sustainable gardening practices promote biodiversity, reduce pesticide use, and contribute to a healthier planet.
• Personal Enjoyment: Whether growing flowers, food, or landscaping plants, gardening is a fulfilling and rewarding hobby.

Registration is now open. Learn more and enroll at: s.uconn.edu/fundamental.

Apply Now for the Ocean State Job Lot Seed Distribution with the UConn Extension Master Gardeners

The UConn Extension Master Gardener Program is now taking requests for our 2025 free seed distribution program. The updated information and seed request are available at: s.uconn.edu/seeds. Thank you for your interest in the program.

We reserve the right to substitute seed packets due to availability, and orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit mastergardener.uconn.edu for more information and resources. 

Gardening Enthusiasts: Our annual Ocean State Job Lot Seed Distribution is coming soon! Please watch the website, the form will be going live soon and only available for a limited time.

The hot, hazy summer days are a great time to plan for next year’s gardening activities! Apply now for the 2025 UConn Extension Master Gardener Program; the deadline for applications is Friday, October 25, 2024.

“The program provides the opportunity for beginner, intermediate or experienced gardeners to increase their personal knowledge of the practice of gardening … The program allows you to meet with like-minded people over a common interest – growing plants,” says Advanced Master Gardener Ken Sherrick of Middletown.

UConn Extension Master Gardeners have an interest in plants, gardening, people and the environment.  Specifically, they are willing to share their knowledge, passion and enthusiasm with their communities, providing research-based information to homeowners, students, gardening communities and others. They receive horticultural training from UConn, and then share that knowledge with the public through community volunteering and educational outreach efforts. UConn Extension Master Gardeners help with community and museum gardens, school gardens, backyard projects, houseplant questions and more.

Classes begin the week of January 13, 2025. Subject matter includes basic botany, plant pathology, soils, entomology and other aspects of gardening such as plant categories, native plants, and pest management. After the classroom portion, students complete 60 hours of outreach experience during the summer, along with a plant identification project.

“The Master Gardener program gave me an understanding the role of plants and insects within the ecosystem, which fostered a passion for removing invasive plants,” says Advanced Master Gardener Karen Berger of Canton, who now volunteers on a project to remove invasives, replacing them with native plants that benefit the local environment.

More information and the application are available on our website.