Lettuce / Leafy Greens
Two dozen or more types of leafy greens are grown in New York, primarily for fresh market production. According to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, 224 New York farms produced 1,398 acres of lettuce. Leaf lettuce is the most widely grown with 758 acres, followed by 381 acres of head lettuce and 260 acres of romaine lettuce. Lettuce is grown for local sales as well as large wholesale markets in the Northeastern, US.Other popular greens are spinach (247 acres), collards (96 acres), escarole & endive (75 acres), kale (57 acres), mustard greens (36 acres) and turnip greens (16 acres). Additional types for which no statistical information is available include: arugula, beet greens, bok choy, dandelion greens, radiccho, rapini, swiss chard and watercress.
Field-grown greens are available beginning from May through mid-October (depending on the type). However, the season can be extended by growing in tunnels protected from harsh winter temperatures.
Relevant Events
2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinar Series
January 22, 2026 : Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield
January 29, 2026 : Cost of Production for Fruit Crops
February 12, 2026 : Fire Blight Management Updates
February 19, 2026 : Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides- Can We Strike the Right Balance?
March 12, 2026 : Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi
March 19, 2026 : St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast
2026 Northeast Extension Fruit Consortium Winter Webinar Series
February 4, 2026 : Management of Up and Coming Strawberry Diseases in the Northeastern United States
February 11, 2026 : Kiwiberry Production in the Northeast
February 18, 2026 : Heat Mitigation- Sunburn and Fruit Coloring
February 18, 2026 : The Dating Game- Updates in Lepidopteran Mating Disruption
March 4, 2026 : USEPA Endangered Species Act Strategies and Pesticide Use
March 11, 2026 : Practical Drought Management for Fruit Growers
Tree Fruit Scouting - Online Course
February 25, 2026 : Tree Fruit Scouting - Online Course
Managing the Invasive Swede Midge Webinar
March 6, 2026 : Managing the Invasive Swede Midge Webinar
2026 Onion School
March 12, 2026
Pine Island, NY
Organic Production Guides
Robert Hadad, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Cornell Vegetable Program
Organic Production Guides for fruits, vegetables and dairy are available through the NYS Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. They outline general practices for growing vegetable and fruit crops using organic integrated pest management techniques.
Introduction to Winter Growing Webinar
Elisabeth Hodgdon, Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
This webinar introduces the basics of how to grow vegetables during winter using a high tunnel.
2019 Romaine Lettuce Summer Variety Trial
Crystal Stewart-Courtens, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
This year's lettuce variety trial was conducted at Philia Farm in Johnstown, NY. The main goal of the trial was to evaluate romaine varieties to see which would perform well in hot summer conditions. We had one successful planting this summer and this is the full report on the varieties.
Optimizing Nitrogen Fertility for Overwintered High Tunnel Spinach
Elisabeth Hodgdon, Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
2017 and 2018 Lettuce Variety Trial Results
Crystal Stewart-Courtens, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
During the past two seasons we conducted trials of primarily Romaine lettuces to determine heat tolerance as measured by bolting and bitterness. Our trials were located at Pleasant Valley Farm in Washington County. During 2017 we planted three successions. One seeding failed due to a greenhouse malfunction; the other two were transplanted in mid-June and early August, about three weeks after seeding. In 2018 we seeded successions on March 28th, July 15th, and August 1st, all of which yielded good harvests. These trials are more observational than research oriented, and included only one replication per planting.
2018 Summer Romaine Lettuce Variety Trial
Crystal Stewart-Courtens, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
This year's lettuce variety trial was conducted at Pleasant Valley Farm in Argyle, NY. The main goal of the trial was to evaluate romaine varieties to see which would perform well in hot summer conditions. We had three plantings over the summer. This report summarizes all information collected from the trial.
Recording of High Tunnel Veg Research Webinar 11/29/18
Amy Ivy, Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
This is a recording of an hour long webinar held by Amy Ivy of the Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program, Judson Reid of the Cornell Vegetable Program and Mike Davis of the Cornell University Willsboro Research Farm on Nov 29, 2018.
A copy of the PowerPoint is included in the 'read details' section below. With funding from the Northern NY Agricultural Development Program.
Impact of Minimal Supplemental Heating on Winter High Tunnel Greens
Ethan Grundberg, Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
With support from a Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (NE SARE) Partnership Grant (ONE17-298) and the generous cooperation of the Poughkeepsie Farm Project (PFP), I spent much of last winter gathering data from a side by side comparative trial assessing the impact of minimal heating in winter greens production. Specifically, we tracked yield, soil nitrate availability, total plant nitrogen uptake, propane use, and soil temperature all winter in the two identical side-by-side 42'x196' double layer inflated poly Harnois high tunnels at PFP. The only deliberately manipulated variable between the two tunnels was the minimum thermostat setting: one tunnel was set to 33° F ambient air temperature and the other set to 40° F.
2018 Lettuce Variety Trial First Planting Results
Crystal Stewart-Courtens, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
This year's lettuce variety trial was conducted at Pleasant Valley Farm in Argyle, NY. It was planted on May 28th, and harvested August 1st. The main goal of the trial was to evaluate romaine varieties to see which would perform well in hot summer conditions and there were 17 days above 85 degrees.
2018 Eastern New York Fruit & Vegetable Conference Vegetable Presentations
Presentations from the 2018 ENYCHP Eastern New York Fruit & Vegetable Conference held February 20th and 21st for the vegetable sections.
2017 Lettuce Variety Trial
See photos and data of the lettuce varieties grown in the 2017 variety trial in Washington County, NY
Ethnic Greens Trial, 2012
Robert Hadad, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Cornell Vegetable Program
Interest in growing ethnic vegetables has been increasing in our region. In response, the Cornell Vegetable Program conducted a two-year ethnic vegetable variety and marketing trial. The focus of the trial was to see how well assortments of vegetables that represent some different nationalities perform in WNY under our wildly fluctuating weather conditions and also to see how growers can market these new vegetables, how customers respond to them at the market, and what is needed to reach targeted communities perhaps. Funding was provided by the Western NY CCE Association group.
Apples
Apricots
Asparagus
Beets
Blueberries
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cherries
Cucumbers
Dry Beans
Eggplant
Ethnic Vegetables
Garlic
Grapes
Horseradish
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lettuce / Leafy Greens
Melons
Nectarines
Onions
Parsnips
Peaches
Pears
Peas
Peppers
Plums
Potatoes
Pumpkins / Gourds
Radishes
Raspberries / Blackberries
Rhubarb
Rutabaga
Snap Beans
Squash - Summer
Squash- Winter
Strawberries
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Turnips
Upcoming Events
I thought I was covered for that! Farm Insurance Webinar Series, Jan-Feb 2026
January 13, 2026 : Session 1: Insurance and Risk Management 101
Insurance and Risk Management 101. This first webinar will cover many of the general provisions found in insurance policies and describe some of the terms to be aware of when you are considering your options. Steve Hadcock, Capital District Hort Team and Greg Murk, FarmNet.
January 20, 2026 : Session 2: Liability Insurance
Coverage for the risk that your business will cause harm to someone. Are you having people on your farm or selling a food product? You might need liability insurance. Robert Hadad, Cornell Vegetable Program, Elizabeth Higgins, Eastern NY Commercial Hort Program.
January 27, 2026 : Session 3:Protecting Yourself from Disasters (Crop Insurance, USDA FSA programs and Flood Insurance)
Are you protected from a weather event on your farm? Learn about your options for Disaster Coverage (crop insurance, FSA programs, flood insurance). Elizabeth Higgins, Eastern NY Commercial Hort Program.
February 3, 2026 : Session 4: Insuring People (health, life and disability insurance)
Options for health insurance, life insurance and disability insurance, and how they can help farmers and their employees. Maire Ullrich, CCE Orange County and Lucas Smith, Cornell Ag Workforce Development
February 10, 2026 : Session 5: Property Insurance
Insuring your infrastructure, equipment, and livestock from loss. Learn about the types of coverage, and the risks they reduce. Colin Hostetter, Tri-County Ag Team, Desiree Keever, CCE Delaware County and Steve Glick, Kevin Daniels Agency.
2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinar Series
January 22, 2026 : Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield
Week 1: Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield
January 29, 2026 : Cost of Production for Fruit Crops
Week 2: Cost of Production for Fruit Crops - A new tool for tree fruit, updates on berry production in NY, and strategies for tracking and using expense data
February 12, 2026 : Fire Blight Management Updates
Week 3: Fire Blight Management Updates - Pathogen Biology, Defense Inducers, Biopesticides, and Pruning Therapies
February 19, 2026 : Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides- Can We Strike the Right Balance?
Week 4: Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides - Can We Strike the Right Balance?
March 12, 2026 : Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi
Week 5: Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi
March 19, 2026 : St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast
Week 6: St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast
How to Diversify or Scale Up with Confidence for Profitability - Inspired by Annie's Project
February 4, 2026
February 11, 2026
February 25, 2026
Do you have an idea for a new enterprise to add value to your farm? Maybe you're considering scaling up for a potential market opportunity but just aren't sure if it's a good fit for your business. Join Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Allegany County, Broome County, Madison County, Onondaga County, Niagara County, Tioga County, the Niagara Small Business Development Center, and the Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Team for a hybrid series on Wednesdays in February, starting on February 4th that will answer these questions and more. Annie's Project seeks to empower farm women through education, networks and resources. We welcome, and encourage, learning and sharing amongst farm women as we help you grow as decision-makers and leaders on your farm.