All Over Albany

Spring plant sales 2018

It's May! And it's finally warmed up! And it will soon be time to start planting tomatoes, peppers, and other warm-weather plants in the garden.

There are a bunch of plants sales around the Capital Region coming up over the next few weeks to help you fill out your garden -- or container on a deck, or window box, or wherever.

Here's a quick list of some upcoming plant sales...

May 5: SUNY Cobleskill Plant Sale & Spring Market
SUNY Cobleskill's Plant Science Department hosts an annual sale with vegetables, herbs, perennials, hanging baskets, and other plants. All the plants are grown by plant sciences students. Soil testing will also be available and there's a lawn care clinic. Saturday, May 5 from 7 am-4 pm

May 11-12: Bethany Reformed Church Flower & Plant Sale
The Bethany Reformed Church in Albany hosts an annual flower and plant sale (now in its 31st year). Patio pots, hanging baskets, vegetables, geraniums, herbs, perennials, and more. There will also be a Hanging garden basket raffle. The church is at 760 New Scotland Avenue. Friday, May 11 from 8 am-6 pm and Saturday, May 12 from 8 am-1 pm

May 12: Fort Orange Garden Club Annual Plant Sale
The annual Fort Orange Garden Club plant sale is at the Pruyn House in Colonie. "Beautiful perennials, annuals, Mother's Day baskets, tomato plants, herbs, gardening accessories and more.." Saturday, May 12 from 9 am-2 pm

May 12: Delaware Avenue Neighborhood Association plant sale
The annual DANA plant sale in the St. Francis parish parking lot (formerly St. James). The sale also includes pre-orders (due by May 4, see the link). Saturday, May 12 from 9-11:30 am

May 18: St. Anne Institute Annual Plant Sale
The St. Anne Institute in Albany has annual sale of plants grown by its work experience program students. Flowers, vegetables, and herbs. It's at the St. Anne greenhouse at 160 North Main Ave. Friday, May 18 8:30 am-5:30 pm

May 18-20: Landis Arboretum Spring Plant, Book, Bake Sale
The Landis Arboretum in Esperance (Schoharie County) hosts a spring plant, book, and bake sale. "Landis' sale features selections from respected local consignors, plants grown and tenderly potted up by Landis volunteers, and plants grown in our own greenhouse. We feature many native plants, and often have a 'theme; plant type for the spring sale." The first day is a members-only "pick your pot" day -- you can join at the gate. Friday, May 18 4:30-7 pm / Saturday, May 19 10 am-4 pm / Sunday, May 20 10 am-4 pm

May 19: CCE Albany County Garden Education Day & Plant Sale
The Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County's annual Garden Education Day & Plant Sale is at the cooperative extension facility in Voorheesville. Master gardeners will be there for tours and advice, but the big draw is the plant sale. We've been in past years and it's popular. There are a bunch of high-quality garden plants -- including both vegetables and flowers -- for low prices. And people start lining up before it starts in order to get their pick of the offerings. So, get there early and have in mind what you're looking for. There will be also soil pH testing (one free, additional $5). Saturday, May 19 from 9 am-1 pm

May 19: Capital Roots Spring Plant Sale
The annual Capital Roots spring plant is sale is at the org's Urban Grow Center in Troy (594 River Street). We've shopped this sale in the past and we were able to score good plants. It typically has veggies (including heirloom tomatoes), flowers, and perennials. Saturday, May 19 from 9 am-1 pm

May 20: Siberian Iris & Perennial Sale
The Capital-Hudson Iris Society's annual Siberian Iris & Perennial Sale is in the parking lot of Main Square Shoppes in Delmar (318 Delaware Ave). It's a rain-or-shine event. In the past it's featured Siberian irises, daylilies, hostas, and a wide assortment of sun and shade perennials. Sunday, May 20 from 9 am-noon

May 20: Native Plant Sale at Thacher Park Overlook
There's a native plant sale at the Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center at Thacher State Park. "The sale theme is Beauty and Beyond, featuring plants with blossoms and beauty for all seasons. We are offering native perennials, shrubs and trees with beautiful flowers followed by berries, nuts, and seed pods to feed the birds, or fall color and foliage. Native plants can fill those difficult areas as well as bring gorgeous color throughout the year." Sunday, May 20 10 am-3 pm

May 26-27: Washington Park tulip dig/sale UPDATED
The annual Washington Park tulip dig/sale is (usually) the weekend after the Tulip Festival -- but not this year! Sometimes it gets pushed back because of weather/slow-blooming tulips (like this year!) -- watch the Washington Park Conservancy Facebook page for details. If you want your pick of the tulips, the day to go is Saturday as volunteers dig up the bulbs and get their pick of limited quantities. If you go to the Sunday sale, go early -- the tulips sell very quickly. Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27

Saratoga Tree Nursery
This isn't a sale exactly, but the state DEC's Saratoga Tree Nursery sells seedlings during the spring. You can order seedlings, subject to availability, through mid May and then pick them up at the nursery in Saratoga Springs. Details are at that link.
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If you know of another good plant sale, please share!