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Annuals/Impatients

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Expert: - 10/1/2009


Question
I love impatients and live in Temecula, CA = can I plant them now
in full sun and will they survive the winter months.  It rarely - if ever -
gets below freezing.  If impatients would not work - what would you
suggest that would continue to give color.

Thanks a bunch - Betty

Answer
Betty,
Impatiens don't do well when the temps dip below 50 degrees, so even if your temperatures don't go to freezing, they won't do well even in the low 40's. I've seen a real change in the impatiens in this area now that the temps are going down to 42 at night.

You can plant cool-weather annuals such as pansies, alyssum, and osteospermum (Cape Daisies). For you, these will be "winter flowers" that will continue to bloom in the spring.  I am jealous because in this area we're looking forward to snow!

all the best,
C.L.

www.gardenlady.com

Annuals

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C.L. Fornari

Expertise

Annuals suggested for specific situations (sun, shade, windowboxes etc) New or unusual annuals are a particular interest of mine, and I grow many of these from seed. I am happy to help problem solve, answer questions about maintenance, and guide you to sources of unusual plants.

Experience

I am a garden writer/speaker/consultant and host of a weekly gardening radio program in the Northeast. I have been gardening all my life for my own pleasure, and started as a professional gardener and garden communicator 15 years ago. I work part-time at a garden center, selling and tending shrubs/trees/annuals/perennials...and doing some propagation and design work. I often think that all these professional activities serve to put a somewhat legitimate framework around a serious case of plant-lust.

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