First freeze poses threat to plants
Plants are still in full bloom and for many the sweaters and long sleeves are tucked away in the back of a closet untouched. This unseasonably warm weather has allowed many to enjoy the outdoors more, as well as causing some fall plants like Mums to bloom late.
“It’s been a longer growing season than normal just because October and November have both been unseasonably warm,” Giving Gardens Greenhouse Manager Tammy Cundiff said. “Mums have actually been later in the season blooming.”
Cundiff says the reason can be attributed to the warm nights we’ve been seeing lately, but that is quickly coming to an end. Right now freeze warnings are in effect for parts of Mid-Missouri which could cause problems for those plants outside. Now is the time to make sure that you take the necessary steps to protect them.
“If you cover, cover with a blanket. Try to stay away from plastic because plastic is going to be just as cold as the air temperature, so you really aren’t giving the plants any protection. You can cover it with a cardboard box, just something other than plastic.”
Cundiff says that Pansies are one of the very few plants that can tolerate the cold and can even bloom in the snow. While ridiculously cold weather is bad for them, we aren’t expecting that here in Mid-Missouri for quite some time. As for other plants, especially tropical ones, you want to make sure they stay covered overnight this weekend.
