Gardeners: Don't Start Planting Just Yet
ST. CLAIR SHORES (WWJ) - Are you antsy to put your green thumb to work? Metro Detroiters will have to wait a bit longer for full-fledged gardening season.
WWJ's Mike Campbell spoke with Jackie Stepanski, at Greenhouse Growers on Mack in Saint Clair Shores, who said it's best to wait a bit.
"The problem is the ground actually is too cold right now. But now is a good time to start amending your soil, bring in your compost -- work it in," Stepanski said.
Stepanski said this year's cooler spring weather had not affected sales. "We're about where we should be," she said, adding, with the recommended planting time still several weeks away, most people will wait to buy their annuals.
But if you're impatient for impatiens -- you might be out of luck.
Stepanski said this year's impatiens crop was pretty much wiped out by a downy mildew fungus.
For alternatives: "There are some New Guinea impatiens, which will take more sun. Or, if you're still looking for a plant that is an impatiens-type flower, you could go to the Madagascar periwinkle, which a lot of people call the vinca," she said.
CBS 62 Chief Meteorologist Jim Madaus says the "rule of thumb" for the safe time to plant annuals is Memorial Day. There will likely be several nights yet this spring when the temperature will fall to near or below freezing. (Get the latest forecast here).
