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May 18, 2009 5:42 pm US/Eastern
Gardeners Brace For Expected Frost
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
With the sun shining - fingers are itching to start digging in the dirt - maybe a little too itchy.
"I think the weather this year encouraged people to start planting earlier as far as some items," says Chuck Beck, co-owner of Sestili Nursery.
Now, Mother Nature is throwing a wrench in the works.
Even Sestili Nursery in South Oakland didn't escape last night's cold unscathed. The foliage on a flat of New Guinea Impatiens is blackened and curled from frost.
"If they're younger plants they might get hit quicker - it all depends," says nursery consultant Fran Taylor.
Chuck Beck has been fielding calls all morning from gardeners worried about another frost warning tonight.
"The best thing to do is water your plants well, because the tissue in the plant will absorb the water and that will counteract the frost," he said.
If the garden area is small, cover tender plants with newspaper or a fabric like burlap. Do not use plastic because when the sun comes up it will burn what's beneath.
But if you wake up tomorrow with frost on your plants, practice first aid.
"In the morning - just get a sprinkler out and hose any frost off."
"I haven't planted anything in the ground yet," says Rochelle Eubanks loading flats of plants and flowers, destined for her Shadyside garden. But she's taking no chances.
"I'm going to store them in my garage today when I get home, and pull them out tomorrow."
And then there's Elizabeth Seamans of Point Breeze and her tomato plants who chooses to brave the frost warning.
"It's an art - I don't think it's a science - we don't know what will happen - and I want them in the ground and I think they'll be just fine."
If you really want to be sure - wait till Memorial Day before doing any planting of annuals.
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