Thursday, March 28, 2013

No Impatiens?

This is the first I have heard of this, but standard garden impatiens across the US have been significantly killed off by a disease, a downy mildew, that has no treatment!  Thanks to the Great Big Greenhouse (GBGH) for this information:

http://greatbiggreenhouse.com/Garden-Center/Where-Are-The-Impatiens.aspx

The link also includes a list of impatien substitutes.  Though you might find impatiens at other garden centers, the GBGH will not stock them this season. It is my advice to avoid them, at least for this growing season, until growers get a handle on this disease (though fungal diseases are mighty hard to control).  Once you plant infected impatiens, they will likely contaminate the soil for years to come.

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