Impatients might not be the best buy this year

[Sunshyne1]

I saw this article in the Hamilton Spectator and thought I would pass it on here:
http://www.thespec.com/living-story/...s-may-be-over/

I, for one, love impatients and buy oodles every summer. But I think I might pass this summer and stick in some Begonias.

and yes, I know sunshine impatients aren't effected, but I have one spot that is full shade all day.

[Shwa Girl]

I saw this article in the Hamilton Spectator and thought I would pass it on here:
http://www.thespec.com/living-story/...s-may-be-over/

I, for one, love impatients and buy oodles every summer. But I think I might pass this summer and stick in some Begonias.

and yes, I know sunshine impatients aren't effected, but I have one spot that is full shade all day.

You may be right.
So, we bought pansies. Not annual pansies. Perennial pansies. This way we will be spending once and have them every year. At Loblaws garden center, they were on sale for $1.99. We had hail and snow last night and frost - yes, Oshawa. Yes, May. They can stand up to this weather.

[Natalka]

I've killed more impatiens over the years than I would care to admit.... so for me, it's never a good year, lol!

I do like them, though!

[Sunshyne1]

yeah..we're suppose to be getting frost here tonight in Hamilton. I haven't planted anything yet, but feel sorry for the stuff poking their heads out.

[Patty Smyth]

Frost here too tonight and we just got freezing rain

I love Impatiens too

[Sunshyne1]

The Coleus is a good alternative. It's foliage look like flowers on their own!

[tobiwobi]

Thanks for letting us know! I prefer begonias anyway, cos you can save the little flat potato-like corm and have them the following year.

Home depot had some funky new petunia, pink with kiwi green edges. Why do they have to tempt me all the time when I wanted was some Mom's day flowers.

Yea frost supposedly here too on Mon night, and all my stuff is already out will see if I can pull some planters in.

[Shwa Girl]

Thanks for letting us know! I prefer begonias anyway, cos you can save the little flat potato-like corm and have them the following year.

Thanks. I never thought of saving the bulbs for another year.

[GoJays]

I was never a big fan of the impatiens anyway. They never seemed to do very well in my yard. Go ten minutes down the road to the in-law's house and they absolutely thrived. I prefer the New Guinea ones.. the flowers are bigger and the leaves are more lush. Not a big loss for me, but thanks anyway for the info

[Sunshyne1]

Thanks for letting us know! I prefer begonias anyway, cos you can save the little flat potato-like corm and have them the following year.

Home depot had some funky new petunia, pink with kiwi green edges. Why do they have to tempt me all the time when I wanted was some Mom's day flowers.

Yea frost supposedly here too on Mon night, and all my stuff is already out will see if I can pull some planters in.

Funcky and new ='s expensive! lol

I save the seeds from my Portulaca's for the next year.

I like the New Guinea impatients too, but I don't like the price. You could get impatients pretty cheap and use them as filler in large areas. Too expensive to do that with Sunshine Impatients!

[tobiwobi]

That powdery mildew stuff is worse than plague.

[cath007]

Thank you for posting that article.Great for news gardeners or just for infos

[avoncallingu]

Thank you for the info. I really LOVE impatiens but I don't want to contaminate the soil and the soil of our neighbours!