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Annuals/Impatients

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Expert: - 4/6/2009


Question
I am from Florida and now I live in Raleigh, NC - two questions

1. I planted my petunias this past week and we are expected to get in the low 30's - do I need to cover them?

2. I also bought impatients but have not put them in the ground - when is it safe to plant them?

Answer
Yes on covering the petunias - although they are a bit more cold hardy than most summer annuals, they have been raised in a greenhouse and will be damaged if the temperatures hit 32 or below.

The Impatiens can't take temps much below 35 - and when the night time temperatures go below 45 they just sulk, so put them outside during the day (morning sun or shade) and inside at night until those night temperatures are predicted to be above 45.

all the best,
C.L.
www.wholelifegardening.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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