Cooperative extension offices

University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center

Maryland, serving Maryland. Listed as a reference, not an endorsement.

Overview

University of Maryland Extension provides science based home and garden information, question support, and Master Gardener connections for Maryland residents. This listing is provided for reference, not as an endorsement, certification, ranking, or guarantee of current availability.

Services and programs

  • Ask Extension questions
  • Home gardening resources
  • Master Gardener connections

What to verify before you go

Contact the organization or review its official source before making a trip, placing an order, joining a garden, or applying for funding. Details that commonly change include:

  • Current local program contacts
  • Question response options

Related directory resources

Browse all extension offices or return to the directory hub.

Sources and last verified

Source: University of Maryland Extension. Last checked 2026-10-04.

The University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center connects Maryland residents with science-based gardening resources and ways to ask questions.

What this listing covers

The center publishes information about native and invasive plants, soil testing, food gardening, tree and shrub care, indoor plants, and diagnosing garden problems. It also connects residents with Master Gardener learning opportunities.

Before contacting the program

Check the current question process, local class schedule, and county contacts. Services and response options can change by program and location.

More tools

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Calculate

Fertilizer calculator

Convert a nitrogen rate into dry product weight.

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Calculate

Potting mix calculator

Size pots and planters in quarts, cubic feet, and bags.

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Calculate

Seed germination calculator

Turn a towel test into a sowing rate.

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Calculate

Raised bed calculator

Get a lumber cut list and soil volume for a bed.

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Garden guides

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Greenhouse growing

Greenhouse temperature guide for seeds and seedlings

Use crop-specific greenhouse temperatures for seed germination, seedlings, frost protection, and ventilation, with practical day and night ranges.

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Diagram of a raised bed cross section showing timber walls, a layer of existing soil or coarse fill, and the measured depth of new soil being added.

Materials

How much soil does a raised bed need?

How to measure a raised bed and turn the volume into bags or bulk cubic yards, with a worked example for a common 8 by 4 bed.

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October calendar diagram showing planting windows for garlic, spring bulbs, hardy greens, and cover crops closing as the first fall frost approaches.

Seasonal

What can I plant right now in my garden?

In early October, most US gardeners can still plant garlic, spring bulbs, hardy greens, and cover crops. Here is what is still open and what has closed.

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Diagram of a tulip bulb in a soil cross section planted at about three times its own height, pointed end up, with a depth marker of 6 to 8 inches.

Fall planting

When should I plant tulip bulbs?

Plant tulip bulbs in fall, about 6 to 8 weeks before the ground freezes. Here is how the window shifts by region and how deep to plant.

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Plant library

Browse all plants
Illustration of an arugula plant with a small rosette of leaves

Vegetable

Arugula

A peppery cool-season green ready for baby leaves in about three weeks.

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Illustration of three asparagus spears emerging from the soil

Vegetable

Asparagus

A perennial crop that produces spring spears for 15 or more years once established.

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Illustration of a brussels sprouts stalk lined with small round buds

Vegetable

Brussels sprouts

A long-season brassica that rewards patience with sweet sprouts after autumn frosts.

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Illustration of a squash vine with lobed leaves and a pear shaped butternut fruit

Vegetable

Butternut squash

A long warm-season vine whose hard-skinned fruit cures for months of winter storage.

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Glossary terms

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plant labels

Determinate

Determinate tomatoes grow to a relatively defined size, set much of their fruit in one period, and are often suited to containers or short harvest windows.

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seeds

Direct sowing

Direct sowing means planting seed where the crop will grow instead of starting it in a container and transplanting it later. Learn when direct sowing works best.

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pests and diseases

Disease triangle

The disease triangle describes how a susceptible host, a disease-causing organism, and suitable environmental conditions must overlap for disease to develop.

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soil

Drainage

Drainage is the movement of excess water through or away from soil. Good drainage keeps roots supplied with water without leaving the root zone saturated.

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